On March 26th, GenR Bay Area members volunteered to chaperone a group of refugees, mostly youth, youth to the California Academy of Sciences, which had generously donated passes to the IRC. The youth are part of the IRC's Intergenerational Food Justice Internship, run by the New Roots program, which pairs young people with older refugees to learn about the environment, leadership, food justice, nutrition, and more. Although all have been in the U.S. for a year or more, many had never crossed the Bay into San Francisco. GenR member Natalie Jabbar reflects on her experience. 

As we meander around the California Academy of Sciences on a bright Saturday afternoon, it feels, for a few hours, like we have the whole world--perhaps even the whole universe--in our hands. We split into small groups, joining and separating throughout the day as we explore every corner of the planet and beyond: underwater coral reefs teaming with multi-colored marine life, a humid rainforest with butterflies fluttering overhead, a rocky shore populated by charming African penguins waiting to be fed, and faraway galaxies unfolding before our eyes in the planetarium. 

The last time I wandered through this incredible museum was a Thursday night about eight years ago with a group of college friends. Today is different. Today, as I walk through the exhibits with these refugee students, I learn not only about the natural world we all inhabit but about the countries each one has left behind--the conflicts they endured, the languages they miss speaking, the communities they long to see again. Throughout the day, one of my main companions, Ana, a high schooler from Ghana, points emphatically to a particular creature, piece of pottery, or vibrant plant, and says firmly, "We have this in my country!" her voice full of so much pride it almost brings me to tears.

As we drive back across the Bay Bridge to Oakland in the late afternoon, I continue to wonder: when will every child be able to safely enjoy the stunning beauty of this earth without encountering so many trials along the way? And then the teenage chatter in my car--a meld of Ewe, English, Karen--stops abruptly when a Justin Beiber song comes on the radio. As everyone (including myself) begins singing along, I think about how grateful I am for the steadfast work of organizations like the IRC who make this somewhat surreal, wonderful moment possible. I think about the diasporas that made my own life possible and the millions of people now fleeing for a better, safer existence. As I drop the girls off, I am buoyed by a new sense of hope--and more determination to do whatever I can to make a positive dent in this beautiful, broken world.

Natalie Jabbar is a member of GenR Bay Area. She works at Stanford University as the Senior Writer and Content Manager for the School of Humanities & Sciences. For the full Facebook album of photos, click here.

To learn more about the Intergenerational Food Justice Internship or New Roots, please contact Deepa Iyer. 

To learn how you can support work like this, please contact Maggie Hicks.