The prom fundraiser hosted by The Welcome to America Project will be April 21, 2012 at St. Patrick Catholic Community Center. Save the date for another magical evening, with all proceeds benefitting local refugees.

This annual charity event is a cause for great celebration. For those of you who didn’t attend last year’s prom, here is a brief recap:  the theme for last year’s event was Some Enchanted Evening, and it focused on the sights and sounds of Broadway musicals. The walls at the Fenlon Hospitality Center were decorated with colorful posters from West Side Story, Cats, Les Miserables, and Jersey Boys; and many attendees got into the spirit of the evening by wearing festive and flashy costumes.

The sounds of Broadway entertained guests as they eagerly bid on 60+ items featured in the Silent Auction. When not engaged in active bidding on Southwest Airlines tickets and signed sports memorabilia, guests made funny faces in an old-fashioned Photo Booth and listened to the baritone voice of Paul Hillebrand and the angelic soprano of Michelle McLaughlin. Authentic Italian fare was served by Pasta Brioni and sweet treats were dished up by St. Patrick’s Blessed Bakers.

The entertainment of the evening was also thanks in part to the presentations from U.S. Representative, David Schweikert and Farman Mohammed, an Iraqi refugee who recounted his journey to America. Schweikert then presented the first annual Helping Hands Award to Phil and Carolyn Manning to honor WTAP’s 10th year of serving refugees in the Valley.

Don’t miss out on this year’s grand event, save the date for April 21, 2012 or purchase tickets now!

My name is Max Thomas, I am 13 years old, and I am part of Boy Scout Troop 6. The highest rank in Boy Scouts is Eagle Scout; to be an Eagle, you need to complete a community service project. Last summer, I was working on finding an Eagle Project at the same time I was volunteering with WTAP. After spending time looking for projects, I decided that I should ask WTAP if I could do anything for them. Megan (the executive director of WTAP) gladly accepted my offer and told me about their Clothing Closet at the Serrano Village apartments.

The Clothing Closet is an apartment filled with clothes that refugees can take. These refugees usually only have the clothes on their backs. WTAP kindly worked with me through the planning of my project. For my project, I worked alongside other Troop 6 volunteers, and we built shelving and storage units for the Clothing Closet, and we reorganized the closet space. We even had enough money left over from my fundraising efforts to build 15 tables for refugee families! Working with WTAP has genuinely been one of the best experiences of my life.

Volunteering with WTAP, not only for my project but for weekly deliveries too, has been very rewarding. The refugees we help couldn’t be more thankful. I’ve also found that when doing weekly deliveries, I really connect with other cultures. The staff and volunteers at WTAP have been more than nice, always working as a team, with smiles on their faces. My family and I are looking forward to volunteering for deliveries again on January 7. I can’t wait to help!

As a native French speaker, I was recently asked by Megan O’Connor to attend a delivery as a translator. We helped a family from the Central African Republic, and I soon realized that our common language helped us build a special relationship that would help a father support and feed his family of 11.

Meeting the Family

When I first arrived on this delivery day, several children greeted us in French and shared their heartwarming stories. They explained how they had to walk for weeks on end around their village in the hope that the rebels would finally give up and leave, but when they realized these rebels were tenacious in their pursuit, they decided they would walk north to a refugee camp in the southern tip of Chad. It was difficult to fathom the extent of their suffering — they lost a brother and were forced to flee their homes with nothing more than a small bag and a few seeds and plants as nourishment.

Even as they explained their arduous journey, these boys smiled and I got the sense they were ready to put their past behind them and embrace their new lives in America. I soon learned that these children were a part of a family of 11: their father, Damien, his wife, seven children, and two nephews (who came to America with this family after their mother passed away).

Helping Damien Learn English

The delivery itself was a success, and about a week later, Damien called WTAP and asked if we could donate diapers to his family since they recently ran out. I used this opportunity to see how his English classes were going. He explained that he was on a waiting list until December, so I started making phone calls and learned there were actually several spots still available. The teacher warmly welcomed Damien and someone even offered to drive him home after class so he wouldn’t have to take the bus. He was extremely thankful, and while we spoke, I realized how difficult it must be to support this large family.

Putting Food on the Table

As a way to help Damien support his family, I called the owner of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The owner, Stella, recently mentioned that her farm had grown so much she needed help to keep up with the demand of the season. I used this opportunity to suggest Damien, and before I knew it, he had his first interview. Right away, Stella and Damien connected (with the help of our translation) and they agreed that he would start the following week. She handed him a bag of fresh vegetables and said he would receive this produce in addition to his hourly wages, a huge benefit for someone who has 11 mouths to feed.

In the end, this story reflects the vision of The Welcome to America Project. People from all different cultural backgrounds came together to discover ways that would make each other’s lives a little easier. Damien now has the ability to learn English and put food on his family’s table thanks to the heartwarming support of his new community.

Ed. Note: Thank you Anne for helping make a difference for this family in need. You went above and beyond to ensure this family’s transition to America was as smooth as possible.

Names changed to protect identity.

In many places people stay up late to see the old year out and the new year in. Almost everywhere in the world church bells ring, horns toot, whistles blow, sirens shriek. London’s Trafalgar Square and New York City’s Times Square swarm with crowds of happy, noisy people. The hullabaloo expresses people’s high spirits at holiday time.

Chinese New Year

Many Chinese children dress in new clothes to celebrate the Chinese New Year. People carry lanterns and join in a huge parade led by a silk dragon, the Chinese symbol of strength. According to legend, the dragon hibernates most of the year, so people throw firecrackers to keep the dragon awake.

12 Lucky Animals: In the Chinese lunar calendar each of the 12 years is named after an animal. According to Legend, Lord Buddha asked all the animals to come to him before he left the earth. Only 12 animals came to wish him farewell, and as a reward Buddha named a year after each one. The Year of the Rabbit is 1999, and 2000 will be the Year of the Dragon.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur

In September or October, Jews believe that God opens the Book of Life for 10 days, starting with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and ending with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). During these days, the holiest in the Jewish year, Jews try to atone for any wrongdoing and to forgive others. A ram’s horn trumpet, known as the shofar, is blown before and during Rosh Hashanah and at the conclusion of Yom Kippur.

Songkran

In Thailand, a special three–day water festival on April 13–15 marks Songkran, the Buddhists’ celebration of the new year. Parades feature huge statues of Buddha that spray water on passersby. In small villages, young people throw water at each other for fun. People also release fish into rivers as an act of kindness.

At Songkran, people tie strings around each other’s wrists to show their respect. A person can have as many as 25 or 30 strings on one wrist, each from a different person. The strings are supposed to be left on until they fall off naturally.

New Year History

Ancient Greeks began their new year with the new moon after June 21. Before the time of Julius Caesar the Roman new year started on March 1. In most European countries during the Middle Ages the new year began on March 25, the day of the Feast of the Annunciation.

More New Year Traditions

• Indonesia also has two New Year celebrations — the official one on January 1 and another on the Islamic New Year, whose date varies from year to year.
• The Russian Orthodox Church observes the New Year according to the Julian calendar, which places the day on January 14.
• In Vietnam the new year usually begins in February.
• Iran celebrates New Year’s Day on March 21.
• Each of the religious groups in India has its own date for the beginning of the year. One Hindu New Year, Baisakhi, comes sometime in April or May.
• The people in Morocco observe the beginning of the year on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year.
• The Koreans celebrate their New Year the first three days in January.

Ready for more holidays around the world? Learn about religious commemorations, harvest festivals, and national holidays.

[Content from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/new-year-celebrations-around-world]

Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2010/dec/31/new-year-celebrations#/?picture=370179311&index=0

The Welcome to America Project’s Adopt-a-Family event this past weekend was the second time I’ve volunteered for this amazing organization. Based on my past experience, purchasing Christmas gifts usually makes my head spin. Finding the perfect gift for the people you love is a fun way to show them you care, but running around through shopping malls with endless holiday music playing is the last place you want to spend your afternoon. This year, I was grateful to be given the opportunity by The Welcome to America Project to really understand the spirit of the season.

Before walking through the front door, I was excited about giving all these presents to a family in need. But what I didn’t know was that our roles were soon to be reversed. Within the first ten minutes I realized meeting such kind-hearted strangers was greater than any tangible gift I have ever received. The Iraqi family of five was shy at first but then opened up to laughter and discussion.

After serving us traditional Iraqi tea and baked goods, the family told us they have only been in America for three months. Their Catholic faith forced them to flee their home country of Iraq and into Syria. This is where they resided in a refugee camp for the past six years. The youngest daughter, Amira,* is seventeen years old just like me. I thought about how different her life has been from mine. The family told us how they plan to take English classes next month and their daughters explained their interest in becoming pharmacists. I could relate to their fear of going to college and joining the real world this year. I could also surely relate to their newfound love of the delicious In-n-Out burger.

We hope to keep in touch with this inspirational family and watch them grow and succeed. They are hardworking people who came here with just the clothes on their backs and are making due with whatever life throws at them. I am glad I got the opportunity to finally understand what the holidays are about and to welcome these refugees to America!

View pictures of this event on our Facebook page.

*Name has been changed to protect family’s identity.

Shortly after our arrival to the USA, my mother, sister and I received a wonderful welcome from The Welcome to America Project.

We first received a visit from them to check our furniture needs and to get information on our journey to Phoenix. Just two weeks later, a group of 20 volunteers of all ages came to our home bringing much more than we expected.

What was really interesting was the warm, welcoming comments we received along with their readiness to help. This gave us a push of hope and encouraged us never to give up. They proved to us that life is still good and helped us overcome our suffering.

We love being here in Phoenix, especially its warm weather, which we are used to because it is quite similar to the weather of Iraq. Although starting life in a new country is not easy, we are adapting to the new situation, appreciating the great opportunity we had to stay alive and safe.

We think WTAP is doing a great job helping the newcomers to Phoenix find their way in their new lives. Thank you to the volunteers who help make this possible.

• • •

Saad is a refugee from Iraq who lived in Jordan with his family for seven years then resettled to the US in 2009. Here is his story.

I soon found out their apartment complex was also home to many other Rwandan families. That explained why this family of five had an additional twenty people in their apartment. These neighbors had instantly become family. Then it hit me – this was what true community looks like.

Here were refugees, thousands of miles from their familiar home and yet they had already found a new “home” because they had made connections with fellow Rwandans. This small community isn’t unique in its kind; there are Guatemalan communities, Indian communities, Somali communities and others all across this country. I realized that as human beings, we long to feel as though we belong, to feel a connection to people or places.

What I witnessed that day was an interaction between two cultures – my own typical American suburbia and the Rwandan way of life. The result was something special that I will never forget. It is these types of interactions between different cultures that break down the barriers between us. And when global citizens from different communities come together, we create a global community.

I knew very little about refugees prior to this experience, but I now understand what a beautiful piece they are in the puzzle of the United States.

Thanksgiving traditions in the U.S. usually involve family, football, and a somniferous spread of foods. While our holiday has evolved from that first humble meal in 1621 where colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a feast, it remains a day we look forward to and cherish. Likewise, many cultures around the world have celebrations that have evolved over the years but are rooted in honoring nature’s providence.

Malaysia: The Kadazan Harvest Festival

Celebrated each May, this festival is centered on honoring the rice gods, who are believed to provide an abundant harvest. Festivities include wearing traditional costumes and drinking tapai, an alcoholic beverage made from rice wine.

Korea: Chu Suk

Chu Suk roughly means “bountiful abundance.” This holiday is a celebration of the harvest in Korea and is celebrated on the 15^th day of the 8^th lunar month. Typically, this is in August or September. During this festival, Koreans eat Songphyon—crescent-shaped rice cakes stuffed with sesame seeds, chestnut paste or beans. Other traditions include offering food to ancestors as an act of worship and gratitude.

Ghana: Homowo Festival

Similar to Malaysia and Korea, this African festival celebrates the harvest. Homowo is celebrated by the Ga people of the Accra region of Ghana and commemorates a period of famine in the country’s history. A month prior to the festival there is a ban on all noisemaking and drumming to symbolize the despair of the famine. Once the famine broke the people shouted with joy. The word Homowo translates to “hooting at hunger.”

Vietnam: Tet Trung Thu

Tet Trung Thu is a mid-Autumn celebration that takes place in Vietnam. The holiday revolves around spending time with children and can be seen as a cross between American Halloween and Thanksgiving. During this holiday, children parade through the streets holding brightly colored lanterns and traditional food like moon cakes (round pastries) are enjoyed. The origins of the festival relate to celebrating the harvest and prosperity in life.

India: Holi

A celebration enjoyed in India is called Holi, or “Festival of Colors.” This holiday is celebrated each March and usually lasts two days. Festivities include throwing colored powders and liquids and enjoying delicious foods in excess. It is a celebration of the coming spring where bonfires are lit to symbolically banish the cold from the grains and welcome the spring harvests.

At The Welcome to America Project, we love hearing about the various traditions of refugees arriving in the U.S. Next time you join us on a delivery, ask a refugee about their unique cultural festivities. Sign up for a delivery today!

Sources:

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving

http://www.worldreviewer.com/travel-guides/harvest/kadazan-rice-harvest/59993/

http://www.pongalfestival.org/chu-sok-korea.html
http://www.ghanaexpeditions.com/regions/highlight_detail.asp?id=&rdid=29

http://www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com/homowo-festival.html

http://www.adoptvietnam.org/vietnamese/tet-trung-thu.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/19/holi_n_837102.html

I’m Agung Barata, an international student from Indonesia studying at Scottsdale Community College on a scholarship from the U.S. State Department. I was really impressed volunteering with WTAP as it gave me unprecedented insight on refugees. It also made me appreciate my life at home. I have a great family and we live in a secure area without war, conflict or other hardships that are commonplace to refugees.

Because of my life free of hardship, I don’t often think of refugees’ lives abroad. The majority of my experiences with refugees have been after they arrive in the United States. However, I learned about the refugee camps and their extremely dreadful conditions with the lack of food, water, and sanitation. Luckily, by joining a great non-profit organization (WTAP), I was able to make a small difference for them. Additionally, volunteering helped educate me on the very real situations happening worldwide and helped me understand a world with human trafficking, starvation and political conflict.

I was really impressed with this experience, and I was really glad for being able to volunteer; it was a magnificent blessing being able to see people live peacefully after years of conflict and sadness.

Truly all people have the equal right to live, work, and study in a proper way. WTAP helps refugees settle into a very unsettled life. This project definitely encourages and inspires me and being able to help has increased my self-respect. I would love to volunteer again. Thank you WTAP.

I did not have any idea about how much the United States cares about refugees until two months ago. I am an international student from Costa Rica and currently enrolled in Scottsdale Community College as part of a scholarship from the State Department. I knew about WTAP through my project coordinator, and I am very grateful to her.

I have participated several times as a volunteer, delivering furniture to refugees in Arizona. It is always hard for me to explain my overwhelming feelings of happiness and empathy every time I volunteer with WTAP. This organization does a magnificent job helping refugees by providing both emotional support and different types of practical assistance.

As an international student, I understand how it feels to arrive in a different country, but I did not have any idea about all of the difficulties that refugees have gone through. Can you imagine what it’s like to leave your country or your family and all that you know, to travel to a completely different country and try to start a new life? It is definitely hard, but organizations like WTAP make it easier.

In my country, one of the most important matters is human rights, and The Welcome to America Project promotes equality and compassion for others. It does not matter what language you speak, where are you from or how you look, we all are human beings, and WTAP is concerned about helping people in need. Being a volunteer for this organization represents so much for me. I definitely encourage people to volunteer with this organization; WTAP has many kinds of opportunities for people who would like to give back to the community and take part in quite a rewarding activity.