Senior Projects!

Every year, SNA works with a number of students from local high schools who must complete services learning hours for graduation.
SNA trains the high school students as volunteer tutors and then matches them with young refugee clients of about the same age . . . there are never shortages of interesting and inspiring projects produced by these students, but it's rare that we're given a digital one to share with everyone else!
Here is a "promotional video" created by one of our tutors as her service learning project.
We're so proud of all of her hard work and are thrilled to see her advocating for refugees in New Hampshire!





(DISCLAIMER: The individuals appearing in this clip are volunteers and not clients or employees of SNA.)

Backpacks needed for new school year!

New resources

New brochure from UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees).


Understanding Depression Across Cultures.



Articles of interest: Family preservation and family strengthening materials from BRYCS.



Celebrate World Refugee Day on June 19th, 2010 at the Concord Multicultural Festival!





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Summer camp & recreation

Camp is something very foreign to most refugee families. Few parents know they can send their children to camp during the summer months. Some families do not wish to separate from their kids during the summer days, but many refugee families view camp as an opportunity to enrich their children's lives (and perhaps find an alternative to childcare while they are working)!

Now is the time to help refugee families decide if they want to send their children to summer camp in 2010. It is most helpful for volunteers to discuss this option with parents of refugee children and then for volunteers to assist families with the application process if they wish to send their children to camp.


Financial aid is often available to families with limited incomes. Most camps offer scholarships on a first-come, first-serve basis.

KIDS
Boys and Girls Club, Concord, NH (Financial assistance available to those who qualify.)
http://www.concordkids.org/

YMCA, Concord, NH (Financial assistance availability unknown.)
http://www.concordymca.org/day-camps or call 228-9622

City of Concord, NH (Please ask for financial assistance recommendations.)
http://www.ci.concord.nh.us/RECREATION/concordv2.asp?siteindxbulletin=r10,01

N.H. Audubon Programs (Scholarships available.)
http://www.nhaudubon.org/programs.html


Girls Inc. (Scholarships available; for girls 6 years of age and older.)
Call 223-0087


Racquet Club (Programs from end of June through August; scholarship availability not known.)
http://www.rccofconcord.com/ or call 224-7887


Camp Spaulding (Two week overnight camp; scholarships available.)
Call 224-7479


Girl Scouts of The Green and White Mountains (Day and overnight camps for girls 6-17)
http://www.girlscoutsgwm.org/ or call 1-800-654-1270 x173

Please note that the resettlement program does not undertake camp applications as part of it's services to refugee families. However, LSS volunteers who need income information for scholarship/financial assistance purposes are welcome to contact the office at 603.224.8111. Transportation arrangements must be made on behalf of the refugee clients by the volunteers as well.

ADULTS

Multicultural Festival, Concord, NH (Refugees may host a table; table fee free to refugees.)
http://www.multiculturalfestivalnh.org/

Concord Community Garden @ NHTI (Free to families new to the program. Returning families must pay a garden plot fee of approx. $10.00. More information forthcoming.)



(photo courtesy)

March update!

Hello, Volunteers and Community Friends!

Happy March to all! Thank you so much for stopping by to learn more about events at the refugee program and new resources that will help you with your work with NH refugees.

First and foremost,

• The next LSS Volunteer Potluck is scheduled for March 11th from 6:30-8:30.
• Dawn Higgins (Director of Cross-Cultural Education and ESOL) from NHTI will be sharing the college's resources for refugees interested in attending school.
• For more information or to RSVP, please call Abigail (Volunteer Coordinator) at 603-224-8111 or email her at astoutimore@lssne.org.

Resources:


Best practices, ideas and conversation about integration.


Have you tried Google Translate? It may not be foolproof, but volunteers say it helps in a pinch! Please note: Nepali is not available at this time, but Hindi may be an option with some refugee cases.


Backgrounders on the Bhutanese from Nepal and Iraqi refugees. Printed copies may be purchased at the Cultural Orientation Resource Center site.


Trouble teaching food safety? Learn what the government recommends here.


For information on household safety, reference the various checklists provided by Kids Health.

News:

We welcome volunteers from NHTI and New England College to the office this semester; thank you to all the students lending their time to helping the Services for New Americans staff!

March Volunteer Training is scheduled for 03/27/2010 from 8:00-12N at Lutheran Social Services (261 Sheep Davis Rd. Suite A-1, Concord, NH 03301). Please call Abigail at (603) 224-8111 for information about volunteer opportunities and training..

Donations:

Most urgent personal supply needs include SHAMPOO, LARGE BATH TOWELS, BAR SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS.

Furniture needs are TWIN/FULL/QUEEN BOX SPRING & MATTRESS SETS, DINING TABLE/CHAIRS SETS, SOFAS AND EASY CHAIRS.

Donation pick-ups may be arranged by calling (603) 224-8111. The resettlement program accepts basic household furniture and supplies that are clean and undamaged. Pick-ups must be within the local Concord, NH area and some surrounding towns. Some weight restrictions on items.

Please stay tuned for future posts!

Volunteer potluck.

Come to our next
Volunteer Potluck!

March 11, 2010
6:30-8:30 pm

Lutheran Social Services
261 Sheep Davis Rd. Suite A-1
Concord, NH 03301


To RSVP, call Abby at (603) 224-8111.

Events & resources

EVENTS:

Free & open to public: St. Anselm's College, NHIOP Auditorium
(recommended volunteer/client activity)

02/18/2010- Chronicles from the 2008 Campaign and Look at the Obama Presidency
02/23/2010- What is NH?


LSS Volunteer Potluck: March 11, 2010. 6:30- 8:30 pm.


TESOL Convention in Boston, March 24-24, 2010.


READS:


Children as 'culture brokers,' focus on children in supervisory and caretaker roles in immigrant households.


Learn more about empowerment within low-income communities.


FREEBEES:


Audiobook downloads courtesy of the Concord, NH library.