A Teenager on What Teenagers Can Accomplish

Talented, local teen Maya Mukherjee was quoted by Nicholas Kristof of the The New York Times , in his May 19 newsletter. We have been so lucky to work with Maya, who is a student at the United Nations International School in NYC. She founded the STAR Project, a club at her school which seeks to support refugees in the US and overseas, and they have contributed generously to our Winter Drive and Personal Products Drive. In the article she submitted to Kristof, she talks about the importance of communities in welcoming refugees, and how teenagers can be involved. Thank you Maya for your inspiring article featuring Hearts & Homes for Refugees and Students for Refugees about communities coming together to support our new neighbors.

As excerpted in NYT opinion writer Nicholas Kristof's newsletter:

In the wake of a harrowing presidency in terms of immigration, those in the refugee space awaited Biden’s inauguration with bated breath. Early into his term, the new President promised an over 800% increase in the refugee cap from the previous year. However, much to the outrage of many, there was a severe delay in the formalization of this plan, leaving refugees slated to arrive stuck in the countries they needed to flee. Amid this controversy, the President quickly backtracked and set the increased cap at 62,500 people for this year. Though this is certainly a win for the refugee community, it’s only the beginning. If Biden really wants to “heal” a post-Trump America, he’s going to have to tack on more comprehensive refugee policies alongside the increased ceiling.

Take NGO assistance, a historically underfunded cornerstone of national refugee support. Because refugees often feel distrust of the host country’s government, nonprofits (such as Hearts and Homes for Refugees and New Neighbors Partnership in the New York area) are the perfect helping hand to build a connection with the families. Hearts and Homes Founder Kathie O’Callaghan says, “we built our mission around the conviction that the grassroots groups can truly shift the paradigm of refugee support in this country.” The work of these groups ranges from full resettlement support for new arrivals — housing, food, and language — to short-term boosts for those in post-resettlement — providing toiletries, clothes, and job interview preparation. These grassroots groups are invaluable in helping displaced families set up life in the United States.

Still, their tremendous contribution to the refugee space could be even more impactful. While community organizations’ volunteer caseworkers are experienced in managing resettlement cases, they are often overworked because of chronic understaffing. It’s well recognized that with the appropriate training and guidance, volunteers could help organizations not just with providing their standard services, but also in creating social connections with families who have been forced to leave their own networks behind. In “building back better”, this administration would do well to recognize the power of volunteers in refugee resettlement and invest in unlocking their full potential.

We also need to go beyond the family unit in aiding refugees. Each individual — mothers, fathers, children — within the household requires specific support that should be personalized to them. For example, refugee teens are particularly vulnerable in the first months after their arrival. Peer mentorship can be especially valuable here, as a complement to school counseling wherever present. In fact, according to a report by UNHCR, an essential part of refugee adolescent education is actually spending time with youth of their own age. Local student support groups, like Students for Refugees (SFR), working with Hearts & Homes for Refugees, have already spearheaded activities that bring refugee youth together with students of similar ages in their area. These initiatives have also allowed local teens to understand and learn about peers who have led such different lives from their own, thus enriching their own perspective. If peer mentorship programs were to be incorporated into the public school calendar, refugee and non-refugee students across the region could benefit.

However, any teenager will tell you that their schedules are chock-a-block. The sliver of leisure time is often consumed by social media. So why not put these platforms to use for refugee adolescent integration? Public schools could establish Instagram group chats or Discord channels for students to chat and share memes, TikToks, and other bits of teen pop culture with incoming refugee youth. Many refugees have some access to social media in their new homes, as shown by online welcome initiatives in Scandinavian countries and in Canada. Using social media may help refugee teens acclimatize to the US in a way that already comes naturally to them.

In increasing funding to grassroots organizations and integrating youth-driven initiatives for welcoming refugee teens, Biden could make good on his promise. That is, to not just allow more refugees into the country, but help them find a sense of belonging, a second home.

Maya Mukherjee is a freelance writer and a tenth grader at the United Nations International School in New York City. She is passionate about recounting the refugee experience and supporting their transition to a safer life.