The Revolutionary Optimists of Boise

On Tuesday, May 7th a small group of my 5th/6th grade class presented at the ITVS Community Cinema event of the PBS Independent Lens film screening The Revolutionary Optimists. (Click the title to see what a great movie it is!)

Our class was invited to participate in this event last fall, and we've been preparing all year. This is what led us to meet Brenda and Becky. 

Our students spoke on the partnership Foothills School has with a school in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nkokwe school has shared letters, photos, gifts and riddles with our students for over five years. We raised over $1000 this year to give the school directly to pay for needed equipment and tuition for orphans and girls that otherwise would not be able to attend school. The partnership with Nkokwe is both enriching and heartwrenching. The school is in an area that is controlled by the M23 rebels and rape, murder, kidnapping and theft are daily occurances there. This spring there are 11 new orphans at the school, and just last month another father of a student was kidnapped. Violence and instability in the region seem ever present. However, providing support to Nkokwe school is our effort to fight against such evil with the hope that education will provide for a brighter future for the DRC. Our connection to Nkokwe school led our friends at the Agency for New Americans to introduce us to Brenda and Becky, since Brenda had to flee similar violence in the DRC in 2005.

 In addition to speaking about Nkokwe School, they also shared what we have done throughout the year to learn about refugees and how they are resettled locally. We learned that Idaho receives more refugees, per capita than anywhere in the United States. And the US receives more refugees than any other country worldwide.

Locally there are a number of organizations that support resettlement. However, refugees receive less support than people expect. Did you know that the government only provides financial support for refugees for 6-9 months? In addition, refugees are required to repay the "loan" for their passage to the United States. (Brenda's loan is over $2300.) The expectation is that a refugee will learn English, get settled, become aclimated to the American way of life, and get a job to become self sufficient in well under a year. Anyone knows that is an impossible task. That is why it is so important for communities, and yes YOU to find out how you can make the transition easier for them. Refugees have all fled life threatening danger. That is how they ended up in the US. It was not by choice, it was by chance. I have heard many refugees explain it like this, "Stay and be killed, or run." Some may consider that a choice but with those options choice seems like an inaccurate word.

I am so proud of the work my students did this year. In summary they

1. Learned about and supported Nkokwe School in the DRC.
2. Wrote advocacy letters to congress to bring awareness to the violence in the DRC.
3. Learned what a refugee is in the first place and then how to help them locally.
4. Listened to and learned from resettled refugees. Understanding their stories was a great inspiration.
5. Volunteered at the Create Common Good (click that to learn about CCG) farm, a farm that provides employment for local refugees.
6. Befriended Brenda and Becky.
7. Donated incredible amounts of money, gift cards and household items to Brenda and Becky.
8. Created committees and action plans to support Brenda and Becky's needs.
9. And finally, gave an awesome presentation to report on all their work. 

GREAT JOB! A real and measurable difference has been made this year by 5th and 6th graders in Boise. We have heeded the call of our Kid President to make this year awesome for someone else. (click that link for a super great video)
What's holding you back from making someone's year more awesome? Find your inspiration and follow it. It will take you somewhere fantastic!