Bridge to Self Reliance 2000 refugees San Diego CA

Suddenly a small figure appeared in front of me, out of the crowd in the room.  Her eyes down-cast, she was nervously shifting from one foot to the other.

"Please can you come to my graduation next week?"she said.  "I am getting a special award. My mother is working that day so she cannot come to see."

"I'd love to", I replied.  "How exciting for you to be off to Junior High next school year! That will be a very special experience."    A flicker of hope appeared in the eyes that met mine for a second.  I wrote down the details of where I was to be and when, as her instructions tumbled out.

On the day of the graduation I slipped into the room buzzing with the happy conversations of participating families and friends, and waved as I saw her scanning the audience to find me.

"Did you see me crossing the stage?" she asked, her eyes aglow.     "Oh yes," I responded. "You looked so grown-up.  I am so glad to be here.  Did you see me wave?"

Her teacher, noticing us, came and sat down at our bench, a little apart from all the other families as we all enjoyed the ice cream that had been provided.  Her kind words of congratulations on hard work and amazing progress were a further confidence builder.

Six months later, when I went to talk to a group about what being a refugee is like, I took my young protege with me. She gave an amazing and uncoached description of both her own and her mother's experiences and received with surprised delight, a standing ovation. Now she was standing tall.   Then came the high school years and now she has confidence in her own resilience, and will make a real contribution to our community.

You, the supporters of our program, are integral parts of successes like hers. Together we create the environment in which families and individuals can make the many small steps that lead  to self reliance.     Way to Go Team!