Services
Saturday Sessions
PAIR’s Saturday Sessions reinforce school learning in a fun and supportive environment. Games, museum visits, science demonstrations, guest speakers and more promote English language acquisition, life and study skills, and cultural immersion. At Rice’s Language Resource Center, students take advantage of innovative learning technology that they otherwise would not have access to. Every other week, volunteers visit students and their families in their homes for one-on-one mentoring. Our goal is to provide stimulating educational experiences that instill a love of learning outside of the classroom.
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College Counseling
This year marks the first time PAIR has offered a program specifically for college counseling. We have recruited a dedicated group of volunteers who have committed to mentoring refugee students at Lee High School weekly. Through our program, students receive group guidance on specific aspects of the college admissions process. In addition, they develop a relationship with mentors, working with them individually on college selection, SAT preparation, essay writing, and other areas within the application process. In the future we hope to expand our program to other high schools and communities in an effort to meet a greater need.
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College Orientation Day
Through College Orientation Days at local college campuses, PAIR aims to create an opportunity for refugee students to explore various universities and learn more about the benefits of attending college. In the past, this day has included sessions and workshops, during which students learn about college in general, hear speakers who emphasize the benefits of a degree, interact with college students, participate in games and activities, and tour the campus.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SPRING 2008 COLLEGE ORIENTATION DAY ON FEBRUARY 9. OVER 50 REFUGEES AND 40 VOLUNTEERS WERE INVOLVED IN MAKING IT THE SUCCESS THAT IT WAS!
Please click here to see the exciting impact of this event on refugees!
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Mentoring
Through collaboration with Catholic Charities Refugee Services, PAIR provides mentors for an after-school program at an apartment complex in southwest Houston. The program seeks to improve refugee English literacy skills through homework help, phonics and game, one-on-one reading time, and fun activities. PAIR attends the after-school mentoring program every week on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. For more information, contact Kathy Vazqez (Kathy.vazquez@rice.edu).
Here is one volunteer's experience with mentoring:
"Through PAIR, I have been afforded the opportunity to work with some of the most precocious, intelligent, and charismatic kids. The best part is that they are from all across the globe. Every Monday for the past semester I head over to [the apartments] with a group of 4 to 8 Rice students for mentoring. I usually work on phonics and ESL with Burmese children ranging from 8 to 12. Some days, we sing kids’ songs together. After working on their English packets for half an hour, the kids are eager to color and play board games. I also help kids complete their homework and read, which is a struggle for many because of the language barrier. I always feel energized after the two-hour afternoons that I spend working with them. It has been wonderful to watch them progress and learn English."
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Employment Workshops
For anyone arriving to the United States for the first time, finding a job can be very challenging. PAIR has established Employment Workshops to facilitate the process for newly arrived refugees. The goal is to teach interview skills and provide cultural orientation through mock interviews and skits, and to give refugees the language and communication skills they need to enter the workforce and become productive members of society as soon as possible.
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Sponsorship
Currently, about one out of every nine refugee families that resettle in Houston benefit from sponsorship. Sponsored families receive individualized attention, and can count on the sponsor for advice, resources, and meeting basic needs. PAIR's sponsorship activities have included donating computers, printers, vacuums, and clothes; helping families set up Internet connections and subscriptions and obtain a car loan; tutoring; and accessing healthcare. PAIR aims to expand sponsorship by partnering with corporations, universities, additional organizations, and individuals in the Houston community to provide sponsorship and support for more families. If you or your organization or business would like to sponsor a family through PAIR, please contact us as at PAIR.Houston@gmail.com.
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