Update

Having met with Ms. Sheahen of the Catholic Relief Society in Garden City, it was proposed that I accompany members of CRS to the local private schools in which many refugee chidlren attend, including Iraqi children.

CRS is currently working on an assmiliation program in which members of the organization work with the children in these schools in order to identify social constraints they encounter while studying in a foreign country.

Sudanese, Iraqi and Egyptian children alike identify problems in their classroom such as colloquial language barriers, peer pressure, family situations, affordability of school supplies, etc through pictures, stories or acting out scenes from their daily life. Each student is given the opportunity to voice their concerns and the children provide solutions to thier classmate's problems. In this way, ethnic and social boundaries are no longer prevalent within the class, and the students learn how to help eachother while living in refugee status.

While CRS has conducted one session of this program already, they are in the midst of continuing thier visits within the next month. CRS has allowed me to accompany them and to ask questions of the Iraqi children pertaining to their situation and how they view their future. Having seen video clips of CRS's work, it is obvious that the children are open to discussion, enjoy talking with the volunteers and like acting out in front of the camera. It is likely that I will be able to proceed with the camcorder for capturing the children's concerns.

It was discussed with Ms. Sheahen that in order to avoid alienating the Iraqi children from their classmates that all of the children, regardless of their nationality be provided an opportunity to sit in front of the camera and ask/answer any questions they may have.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

While volutneering at Caritas clinics has proven a little arduous until I learn a little more arabic, CRS ahas also provided a list of other churches, clinics, and volunteer organizations in the area in which to aid Iraqi refugees.

1. St. Andrew's Church (downtown-- number 38 on 26th of July Street near Nasser Metro) needs volunteers to teach Iraqi and Sudanese refugees things like English or computer skills;

2. All Saints' Cathedral in Zamalek also works with refugees, mainly Sudanese; they need English-language tutors and help collecting used items.