The Volunteer Anchor Program
Providing guidance to refugee families during their first months in a new country
Rebuilding your life in a new country can be less daunting if you have an anchor—a friend you can trust. Through weekly visits offering friendship and support, COAR’s Volunteer Anchors help refugee families connect to resources in the community, develop positive relationships, and reclaim a sense of belonging.
“Our experiences helped us to view our own culture in a different way, as well as to better appreciate the Sheikh family’s culture. We also realized that refugees are not just people to be pitied. Despite their difficulties in life, the Sheikhs are a family with very strong personalities and values. We appreciate them as friends and feel fortunate and proud to befriend them.”
- Amelia Schubert and Sarah Ventre, Volunteer Anchors
The Reaching Higher Program
Mentoring refugee youth in their aspirations toward higher education
Cultural barriers and limited academic resources often keep qualified refugee youth from seeking higher education. COAR’s Reaching Higher College Prep Program pairs refugee youth is with a community mentor for a series of practical workshops on higher education topics, helping them to translate their strengths, skills and experiences into powerful tools to shape their future.
“Bendu and Albert are two of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met. The significance they place on education not just as a personal improvement but even as a civic duty and a way to contribute to society really strengthened my commitment to my own education. I really value the friendship that we developed.”
-Arianne Peterson, Reaching Higher Mentor
Unfamiliarity with the US education system, and limited networks and economic resources keep deserving refugee youth from their opportunities to advance their education. In addition, institutions of higher education miss out on the unique cultural, intellectual and personal contributions that this diverse and resilient population has to offer. Reaching Higher provides refugees with the tools necessary to graduate high school and enter college.
Awareness and Advocacy
Engaging the community in refugee issues both locally and globally.
Every refugee group is unique and each refugee has a unique story to tell. The Awareness & Advocacy program utilizes creative means to engage the community in dialogue and to inspire action in support of refugees. We are always looking for new ways to promote fair treatment, compassion and opportunity for refugees and new opportunities to tell their stories.
COAR’s Awareness & Advocacy program focuses on informing the public about the diverse population of refugees living among us and the issues that affect refugee populations worldwide. This effort also ensures that COAR volunteers working directly with refugee families have a thorough understanding of the political, economic, and cultural roots and repercussions of the global refugee situation. Utilizing creative initiatives and partnerships, COAR stimulates community awareness, dialogue, and cooperative action towards sustainable progress in the field of refugee rights and resettlement services. COAR engages the community in a participatory effort to promote fair treatment, compassion and opportunity for refugees. Past events included public forums, discussion panels, film screenings, cultural performances, cultural outings, and donation drives.