RefugeeYouthMentoringPrograminAtlanta,GA

AMentorsStory
MynameisWendiBozeman,andmymenteesnameisSan;sheistwelveyearsold,inquisitive, beautiful,andwarmhearted.Ibecameamentortomakeadifference.WhenIdecidedtotakepartin theRefugeeYouthMentoringProgramthroughCatholicCharitiesAtlanta,Ihadnoideatheimpression thatitwouldhaveonmylife. Onourfirstoutingtogether,IchoseStoneMountain,aparkoutsideofAtlanta,asalocationforusto explorenatureandgettoknoweachother.IgaveSantwooptions;walkaroundandplaythegames,or climbthetwomilestothetopofthemountain.Tomyshock,sheheadedtowardsthetrails.Whenwe beganourclimb,itwasmehavingtokeeppacewithher,nottheotherwayaround.Shewas encouragingme,tellingmethatIcoulddothis,thatwecoulddothis.Whenwefinallyapproachedthe topofthemountain,thelookonherfacewasabsolutelyheartmeltingshewasseeingsomethingfor thefirsttimethatIhadtakenforgrantedsomanytripsbefore.ItwasinthatmomentthatIfully understoodthatweareeachothersmentorsandareonthisjourneytogether. Sanhasallowedmetoseethingsforwhattheyare.Allsheexpectsfrommeistimeandthewillingness tousemyimagination.Shepossesseshumblenessbeyondheryearsandpatienceinherheart;sheisa caregiverwithanopensoulandagreatimagination.Iamluckytohaveherinmylife.

AbouttheRefugeeYouthMentoringProgram
CatholicCharitiesAtlantasRefugeeResettlementServicesRefugeeYouthMentoringProgram(RYMP) matchesmentorswitharefugeeyouthbetweentheagesof9and17.RYMPmentorsactasselfesteem boosters,tutors,rolemodels,andfriendsandassistandencouragerefugeeyouthastheydeveloptheir skillsandtalents.Mentorsmeetwithmenteesintheirhomeortakethemonoutingsinthecommunity. Theymustcommittoworkingwiththeirassignedmenteeforaminimumoftwohoursaweekforone year.RefugeeyoutharriveintheUnitedStateswithinterruptedschooling,limitedEnglish,andoften traumatichistoriesafterspendingyearsinrefugeecamps.OurRefugeeYouthMentoringProgram (RYMP)offersrefugeeadolescentsthesupporttheyneedtostriveforsuccessintheUnitedStates.We traincommunityandparishvolunteerstoworkwithyouthinordertoimproveeducationalachievement andprovideextracurricularoutlets.Byimprovingthelivesandeducationalachievementofrefugee youth,wehelptoensuretheirsuccessinschooltherebyopeningcareeropportunitiesthatkeepthem fromlivinginpoverty.

AboutCatholicCharitiesAtlanta
CatholicCharitiesAtlantaisanadvocateandfriendforindividualsandfamiliesfacingadversity.We provideaholisticcombinationofaccreditedsocialservicesthatremovebarrierstoselfsufficiency.Our servicesaretailoredfortheuniquecircumstancesofthepeopleweserve,andourimpactisrealand measurable.Wearefaithbasedandserveourneighborsprofessionally,compassionately,inmultiple languagesandregardlessofbackground.

HowyoucanHelp
TheRYMPneedsyourcontinuedsupport,prayers,anddonations.Wealwayswelcomenewvolunteer mentorstoconnectwithouramazingyouth.Theyouthintheprogramarelocatedprimarilyinthe Clarkston,Tucker,andDecaturareas.Volunteersmustbe21yearsold,submittoanagencybackground check,andmeettheagencyinsurancerequirementsfortransportingclientsintheirpersonalvehicle ContactKimLongshoreatklongshore@catholiccharitiesatlanta.orgor(678)2223964formore information.SecureonlinedonationscanbemadeontheCCAwebsiteat https://give.catholiccharitiesatlanta.org/donatenow.

Communications/MarketingStaffandSocialMedia
StephanieUngashick,SeniorDirectorofMarketingandCommunications Phone: 4049207759 Email: sungashick@catholiccharitiesatlanta.org SocialMediaLinks: https://www.facebook.com/catholiccharitiesatlanta https://twitter.com/CatholicCharAtl