This summer, the IRC in Tallahassee launched a new, volunteer-led Youth program to help middle-and high-school refugee students from the Democratic Republic of Congo learn English and better adjust to their new home. The response from community members has been incredible!

“We put out a call and the community responded so quickly,” said the IRC’s Volunteer Coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA member, Chase Beasley. “Several dedicated volunteers have joined the IRC in Tallahassee team over the past few months and have been working with students in their homes, providing mentorship and support as they become orientated into the community.”  

Already, the success of the program has been highlighted by local media, most recently through a WCTV segment featuring IRC volunteer mentor, Tommy Thompson, and his students Eric and Emmanuel.

WATCH: IRC Youth program highlighted on WCTV

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Photo: WCTV

Tommy is the owner of the Florida Kayak School and Tours and leads international kayaking tours and expeditions. Prior to starting his own business, he was a high school social science instructor and taught across the U.S. and in South America. “I was motivated to become an IRC volunteer because of our country's hostile policies toward people intending to come to our country,” Tommy shared. “I appreciate the job our local staff has done in so quickly creating and expanding the IRC presence here in Tallahassee.”

So far, Eric and Emmanuel are thriving with the support of Tommy’s mentorship. They learned how to read the bus schedule and get to the public library where they have access to the Internet and a quiet space to study. Tommy also spent time advocating on behalf of the wider community, and recently convinced the state government to install a much-needed crosswalk in the students’ neighborhood to make it safer for them to get to school.

A man and a woman in their twenties, pose for a picture with three middle and high school age students in their home.
IRC volunteer, Yennifer Castillo, and IRC AmeriCorps VISTA member, Chase Beasley, with Congolese students.
Photo: IRC

21-year-old IRC volunteer mentor and Florida A&M student, Yennifer Castillo was also recently featured in the press, when the Tallahassee Democrat highlighted our Refugee Youth Literacy program on the front page. Yennifer shared that by being a mentor, she hopes to help the students by "being their American friend and giving them whatever tools they need to perform just as well as their peers who have been in the U.S. all their lives.”

We are so grateful for our dedicated volunteers and the Tallahassee community’s compassionate response to this new initiative. We know our students will continue to thrive in their new home thanks to this generous support.

We are still looking for volunteers to make a difference in the lives of our young clients! View this volunteer position on our website here or contact [email protected] to learn more. 

To learn more about the work of the IRC in Florida and for information on how you can get involved with the IRC as a donor or volunteer, please contact Development Coordinator, Melody Fakhourie at [email protected].

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