Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — There are 800 refugee students now in the Granite School District. They are all ages and attend all grades — from kindergarten to 12th grade. There are 100 languages represented, and the challenges are as varied as the children themselves.
Ghasaq Maiber is a refugee liaison for the district. She and her children came to Utah as refugees from Iraq 15 years ago, and now she helps other refugee children and their families.
"I love to see all refugee families be successful," Maiber told KSL NewsRadio. "Right now we have families from Afghanistan. We have a Syrian family, Iraqi, Congolese. From everywhere."
Experiences vary for refugee students
"Some refugee students speak perfect English," Maiber's colleague and fellow refugee liaison Danjuma Alcala explained. "Some even attended private schools."
Alcala told the story of one student who learned English watching YouTube videos while living in Turkey, before his family fled to escape war.
"And some kids come with no education whatsoever," Alcala said. "They grew up in camps. Imagine being a high-schooler, and it's your first time in a classroom."
They work with the kids to provide them educational, cultural and life skills opportunities, particularly through mentoring.
One word for these students – resilient
As the school year draws to a close, both Maiber and Alcala provide their cell phone numbers to the students and families they work with. They don't just work with this community. They are a part of this community.
Alcala said, "One word for refugee students and families is resilient. Despite school coming to a close, they will look and find opportunities within their neighborhood and communities."
He once asked a Syrian refugee family, "What is your biggest benefit from coming here?" He said they responded, "safety." When asked what was their greatest need, Alcala said the family said, "a friend."
"That is all they want," he said. "They aren't asking for things. What they want is your friendship."
Granite School District does, however, collect various donations for refugee families living within its borders, which are made available through its family engagement centers and storehouse, as well as the Granite . For current needs and volunteer opportunities, visit serverefugees.org.
