National Volunteer Month: Building Community Through Education

“I think people underestimate the kind of impact they can have on someone’s life. I know I did before starting this work.”

Priyanka is a doer, and her belief in service and care is exactly what brought her to Heartland Alliance. A neuroscience major at Northwestern University, Priyanka came to Chicago a little over two years ago in the hopes of gaining skills to help her serve vulnerable populations. Her classes focused on healthcare access around the globe and learning about the plight of refugees and displaced people around the world compelled her to act.

“Refugees and immigrants face countless barriers that keep them from life-saving resources and information. I know that’s what I want to focus on as a doctor, but I wanted to start working locally.”

For the past year, Priyanka has been volunteering as a tutor for an after-school program led by our Refugee and Immigrant Community Services (RICS) program – dedicated to helping refugees resettle in Chicago and rebuild their lives.

Once a week, Priyanka joins case managers and volunteers on the north side of the city to create a community of young people from all around the world. Rohingya grade-schoolers, Congolese teenagers, middle-aged volunteers – the RICS afterschool program is alive with the power of community. These people come together to work on English and homework assignments, play games, and build a foundation of confidence for new Americans.

“It’s so important for people to have folks they can trust and support. That’s what we are doing in this work,” Priyanka said. “It can be a little wild, but we’ve really worked hard to create a system that people can rely on, something where these young people can thrive.”

Priyanka’s first year has been an inspiring journey. She’s been amazed by the dedication of the young people she serves. It can be a struggle for anyone, even herself, to complete the homework, but Priyanka sees a level of focus and appreciation from young refugees that motivates her to step up.

Just recently, Priyanka accidentally showed up when the program had been cancelled – only to notice that two other students had done the same. She decided to walk the children home.

“Their mom greeted me outside and insisted that I come in and spend time with the family. They just talked so much about how appreciative they are for all of the support,” Priyanka said. “They fed me – and when they found out I understood Hindi, they wanted me to stick around and watch Hindi movies. I’m honored that I could make these folks so comfortable and trusting that they invited me into their lives.”

Priyanka has taken that inspiration and dedication one step further during this crisis. One of the most immediate concerns for refugee families (and most families sheltering in place) is access to school services, so making sure kids are still learning is a top priority.

Priyanka is making calls, checking in and engaging with kids, providing virtual homework help, and setting up teleconferencing services to bring the after-school program online. As always, the program is a little wild – but the community remains the same, and Priyanka is grateful for it.

“Helping someone is more than just the actual service you give–it’s this sort of element of letting people know they aren’t alone. It’s one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences you can have.”

Back to National Volunteer Month 2020 »