In 2002, shortly after her sister passed away, a female refugee came to Memphis from Sudan with her five children and her sister’s five children. Upon her move, she saw a tremendous need for refugee education and support in the community. Her attention to this need brought the Refugee Empowerment Program, or REP, into being.
REP began as an organization of just two volunteers and twelve students. Today, it consists of more than one hundred volunteers and more than 400 individual participants. Its main mission is empowerment through: “educating, encouraging, and equipping individual refugees, refugee families, and refugee communities.”
Included in REP’s mission is deepening the connection between refugee and American communities. Every year America receives anywhere from 200-400 refugees, mostly Asian or African, who have little to no formal education. A refugee’s main struggles most often include an inability to speak or understand English, a lack of job opportunities, and a feeling of a culture shock.
REP offers three main programs to Memphis refugees. The first is an after-school program in which volunteers work with students from PK-12 to complete required assignments, develop educational skills like reading, writing, and language proficiency, and utilize accessibility to electronic devices. The second is an English as a second language program or “ESL” that includes three levels of English classes and a course for Pre-GED. The third is a Summer Enrichment Program that runs during June and July with a focus on English and math skills for younger students. Classes in the programs include adult education, standardized test prep, character education, women’s leadership and Bible studies.
REP also includes a nursery, in which toddlers and infants are cared for while their parents are in class. And a mentorship program, where families and churches are paired with refugees, is currently being established.
I had the opportunity to talk with former refugee Muna Mohamed, who was a student herself in the Refugee Empowerment Program 11 years ago. After hearing all of her friends praise REP’s educational courses, Mohamed started receiving ACT help in her sophomore year of high school. In her senior year, Mohamed began volunteering with the after-school program. She continued her involvement with REP as a Bonner Scholar and student at both Rhodes College and the University of Memphis.
When asked about what she found to be most impactful about her volunteer work REP, Mohamed replied, “You get to see your students improve, and they know that they can come see you.”
Many students from around the Memphis area also volunteer at the organization. Jill Fredenburg, a senior Art major and International Relations minor at Rhodes College, became involved with REP because of her passion for International Studies. After noticing the trend of participants’ lower scores in English and reading on standardized tests, she helped develop an ACT practice program and textbook for the after-school and Summer Enrichment students.
Fredenburg takes pride in her time and work at REP and offers an insight as to how community members can get involved, too.
“Volunteering with REP is wonderful because the community is so strong and because the director, Cam Echols, is so intentional with what types of programming the organization provides. There are opportunities there for Rhodes students to explore early childhood development, ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching, tutoring, grant-writing, and nonprofit management! You really get an understanding of the whole process when you build a relationship with REP. I'm very lucky to have gotten to work there.”
No matter what else you’re involved in, volunteering at REP is an amazing way to immerse yourself into the Memphis community in a unique, international, and supportive way. By volunteering for the organization, you can build stronger communication and people skills, broaden your understanding of Memphis’ international community, and take pride in the positive impacts you are making on people’s lives.
Rhodes junior and Bonner Scholar, Karina Henderson, tutors students of all different age groups through REP. She says, “In a way, they become my little brothers and sisters, and it makes me feel good to see them happy and successful in school. REP is always looking for volunteers to provide meaningful academic guidance for students, while simultaneously acting as positive and fun role models.”
The Refugee Empowerment Program would not be successful without assistance from Memphians, so consider volunteering or donating to support this organization. Volunteering opportunities include assistance with the after-school program, ESL, the nursery, the Summer Enrichment Program, mentoring, and one-time events. You can also donate online at www.repmemphis.org/donate.
