It Takes a Village: Meet Eh Doh
You’re likely familiar with the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” This African proverb strikes at the heart of what we believe at the Refugee Education Center.
We believe no one person can possibly shoulder the responsibility of ensuring a child grows in a safe and healthy environment. For the refugee children we serve on a daily basis, this fact is magnified by the trauma they and their families have endured by fleeing their homes and rebuilding their entire lives in a new place, experiencing a new culture, learning a new language, and more.
As families are resettled in our community, they bear the tough challenge of starting over with, often, no more than a few personal belongings and the hope for a better future. It takes more than a parent or guardian, a resettlement agency, a school or childcare center, a faith community, and even the Refugee Education Center to ensure that refugee children can flourish in their new homes. It takes a village. It takes you, me, and all of us who donate, volunteer, advocate, and welcome our new neighbors. Since 2006, we have seen the West Michigan community, time and time again, answer the call and be that “village.”
As the year comes to an end and we prepare to look back on another year of refugee support, we wanted to share with you an impactful story about how the village has worked together over several years to support a child’s successful development journey.
Meet Eh Doh
In April 2019, Eh Doh, aged 11, arrived in Grand Rapids along with his Burmese family through the refugee resettlement program. As a student engaging with the US school system for the first time, we invited Eh Doh to join our summer BRIDGES program to provide a safe and welcoming environment and help him prepare for the classroom.
Throughout the summer, the weight of Eh Doh’s transition was apparent in his anxiety. He was withdrawn and refused to socialize with the other children or participate in many of the planned activities.
As the school year began, we encouraged Eh Doh and his family to enroll him in our afterschool tutoring and mentoring program, Project Faulu. Once again, Eh Doh struggled to engage and participate with volunteer tutors, peers, and our staff. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, our program moved online, and Eh Doh’s attendance slowly declined.
The Village Comes Together
At this point, the Refugee Education Center team, Eh Doh’s parents, and teachers knew Eh Doh needed more support. We had a hunch that his anxieties and past trauma were affecting his ability to interact with groups and peers, so we assigned him a personal mentor who would socialize with him on a consistent basis and work with him individually on his socio-emotional well-being.
Our team and Eh Doh’s teachers also suspected an issue with his speech development. We collaborated with a local speech language pathologist and assessed that Eh Doh had a speech impediment in his native language that was holding him back.
Making Strides
After a tough first year and a pandemic-marred second year in the US, we all hoped the individualized support made a difference for Eh Doh. He was invited to re-enroll in the BRIDGES program for another try (typically, students only attend the BRIDGES program once).
Staff and volunteers immediately saw Eh Doh’s vast strides. He willingly collaborated with his peers and participated in all the program activities. Eh Doh became so fond of his peers at the program that, in the waning days of the summer, he would cry tears of joy and hug volunteers and staff in gratitude.
Thankfully for Eh Doh, the fun didn’t stop there as he once again enrolled in our Project Faulu afterschool program for the fall semester.
From a complete reticence to engage with his peers and our programs to now proclaiming that the Refugee Education Center is his favorite place to be, Eh Doh’s story is a testament to the resiliency and adversity that must be overcome to find a sense of belonging in the community and feel successful. It reminds us once again that adjusting to a new culture and environment does not happen overnight, and it truly takes a village to raise a child.
Eh Doh’s story not only displays his courage and resiliency but illustrates the sprawling network of support cheering him on. We invite you to join us in supporting children like Eh Doh in the coming year by making a financial gift today.
Your financial support will help us have the resources needed to impact hundreds of children with similar journeys and potential. Contributions of all sizes make an impact. Just $65 (or $11/mo) can provide one semester of after-school snacks and supplies for one refugee student!
Make a difference and get involved today by donating or volunteering!