In the spirit of giving and service, the Center of Community Engagement would like to highlight the work that students have done this semester at the University of Rochester. In the past two weeks, the Refugee Student Alliance has been actively involved in two wonderful community engagement events! Naomi Bell, a junior studying psychology at the U of R, is also the current secretary of the Refugee Student Alliance and she gave us some insight into the amazing work her student organization has been doing. Below is a brief explanation by Naomi of the volunteer services the Refugee Student Alliance has done so far and how we can get involved:
“First, on Thursday, October 26th, our dedicated E-board members rolled up their sleeves and took part in setting up two housing units in collaboration with the Catholic Charities for Family and Community Services. The service consists of tidying up the spaces, arranging the furniture and creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere in preparation for the arrival of two families from Congo.
Our second event was with Mary’s Place, a non-profit refugee outreach center. This past Wednesday, November 1st, members of our organization joined hands in assisting with Mary’s Place’s weekly food donation. This donation is hosted every Wednesday from 8 am to 10:45am. The service consists of packing food items into bags to be distributed to over 300 refugee families in the Rochester area.These activities were driven by our desire to offer support to refugee families, helping them feel comfortable and truly at home in their new surroundings. Engaging in these acts of service was profoundly empowering, and it reminded us of the meaning and appreciation that comes from assisting others.
At the core of our organization’s mission is a commitment to helping refugees who have already embarked on a challenging journey to adapt to a new environment in a foreign country. Our goal is to ensure that this process is as smooth and welcoming as possible. We believe in the power of empathy and community to make a positive impact in the lives of those who seek refuge and a fresh start. “
– Naomi Bell, Class of 2025 Secretary of Refugee Student Alliance
To stay up to date with future service projects and events by the Refugee Student Alliance, follow their Instagram page here, join their group me here, or look at their link tree here! We at the Center for Community Engagement want to give a big thank you to the Refugee Student Alliance for doing and sharing their incredible work.