OurBridge for Kids strives to make refugee and immigrant children feel ‘respected and embraced’

I learned of OurBridge for Kids organically back in November. At the time, I was still finding my way around the Plaza Midwood neighborhood and I just popped my head in to find out what they were all about.

As someone who wasn’t born in this country (I was born in Vietnam) and considering the political climate around immigration, I was immediately drawn into trying to help out in any way I could.

OurBridge for Kids was founded by Sil Ganzo, who was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and came to Charlotte in 2003. In 2010, she was working with another refugee and immigrant community after school program called The Bridge that closed in 2013. She started OurBridge for Kids because there wasn’t another after school program in Charlotte that wasn’t faith based.

“OurBridge for Kids is a safe, community-centered space where these families could feel respected and embraced, because in most cases, their culture and beliefs are the only thing they bring with them to the United States,” said Ganzo, who is still the executive director of the organization.

OurBridge for Kids currently has 76 K-5 students from three east Charlotte elementary schools: Merry Oaks, Winterfield and Oakhurst STEAM Elementary. The students represent more than 20 cultures from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.  Students are referred to OurBridge for Kids by current students, school staff, or parental word of mouth.

“We have a 92 percent retention rate and a 94 percent average attendance rate, which means we are at capacity every day.” Ganzo said.

Andrew Eastwood coordinates the day-to-day programs at OurBridge for Kids. Eastwood, a Connecticut native who started volunteering with OurBridge in 2014, has traveled around the world, living and working in Thailand, Cambodia, Argentina and the Czech Republic.

“I love working with kids from different cultures,” he said. His staff consists of eight other student tutors and a host of volunteers.

“I am often praised because of our staff,” Ganzo said. “They are truly amazing. We can only be successful if we have unique people who understand what we do and how we do it.”

Those people include Linda Land.  Land, a native of Scotland who has taught English all over the world, serves as OurBridge for Kids’ Literary Facilitator. She assesses every child with the cooperation of English as a Second Language teachers to make sure they are on top of their academic needs and proficiency progress.

A typical day at OurBridge for Kids

The students arrive in two groups, Merry Oaks and Winterfield together at 3 p.m., Oakhurst STEAM Elementary at 4:45 p.m. Days begin with snack time, then straight outside for some play time, which generally means kicking a soccer ball around.

Upon returning to the center, the kids get together for “Whole Group,” where they talk about what was good or bad about their day at school or home. This is a chance for kids to express themselves a bit.  Friday features a segment entitled “Stars and Hearts.”  A tutor will have an opportunity to single out a student or students who did something noteworthy during that week and they are given a star and recognized by their classmates with a round of applause. Hearts are given out from student to student for such things as being nice at school, helping someone with homework or just being a good friend.

Then it’s time to work on homework or a group project. Students get help from tutors or help each other through their assigned schoolwork. But all lessons aren’t taught here. The kids occasionally have a chance to spend some time at the yoga studio next door, or learn to make pizzas at a local restaurant, or take in a cultural experience as a group.

The kids “help me be a better person, a better teacher,” said tutor Andriika Clark. “They give me a different perspective, you learn a lot from children. I take as much from them as they do me.”

The current political climate has brought more awareness to the plight of the refugee community here in Charlotte.

“After the announcement of the travel ban, we have seen an increase of over 900 percent in volunteer inquires, and the number of encouraging calls and emails have increased as well,” Ganzo said. “We have been teaching our students the three branches of government in an effort to make them feel safe and reassuring them that our community has thousands of people who care and will stand up for them.”

Want to help?

If you are interested in donating to refugee causes, a Rock for Refugees benefit concert is set for this Saturday at the Evening Muse in NoDa. Proceeds will go to Refugee Charlotte, a newly formed organization working with the many immigrant advocacy groups around town.

If you’re interested in volunteering, there are two volunteer orientation dates coming up March 1 and 11.  More information can be found at www.joinourbridge.org.

Photos: Jonathan Lee and courtesy of OurBridge for Kids

This story was originally published February 23, 2017 at 10:25 PM with the headline "OurBridge for Kids strives to make refugee and immigrant children feel ‘respected and embraced’."