Community Resource Center Launched

SCM is very happy to announce the successful launch of our community resource center for the Syrian refugees who have been resettled in the Puget Sound area. We had our first session and meeting with some of the families and volunteers yesterday, there was food and good discussion of what the families are hoping to get from the center. The biggest request is English lessons for the adults and Arabic for the children. It seems the children, who are all in school, are picking up English quite easily, but their parents worry they will forget Arabic, particularly reading and writing in Arabic. So we will start scheduling Arabic lessons for the children, and English for the adults, who are having a harder time becoming proficient in the language.

Another issue that came up is helping the women learn to drive. They find public transportation intimidating and hard to get around when they need to be somewhere at a certain time.

The center is just getting started, but if you would like to volunteer to help with activities there, please contact our office for details.