Home Safe Home
We’ve all felt misplaced at one time or another. If you’re a refugee, that’s more than an understatement. “It is the obligation of every person born in a safer room to open the door when someone in danger knocks,” writes author Dina Nayeri. Although most of us are descendants of refugees, we may not know their struggles and triumphs. Instead, we can offer compassion to those in need today—and hear their stories. The Force For Good team is delighted to highlight two Philadelphia, Pennsylvania organizations that offer refugees support: Welcoming the Stranger and The Welcoming Center. Perhaps there are similar groups in your area that could use help. Sooner or later, each of us may have to count on the kindness and mercy of strangers. Let’s welcome those who seek refuge.
From the website: “Welcoming the Stranger is an educational non-profit organization that offers free classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), computer skills, and United States citizenship exam preparation to adult immigrants and refugees in the Philadelphia metro region.
Founded in 1999, Welcoming the Stranger has taught over 4,000 students from 104 different countries. …Using paid teachers and about 100 volunteers each term, we offer about fifteen to twenty classes each trimester. Classes are held both day and evening. Over the past several years, classes have been offered Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Northeast Philadelphia. There is no cost to the student for any of the classes.”
From the website: “The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia. We believe that a steady influx of new customers, workers, and entrepreneurs can reinvigorate Pennsylvania’s aging population, renew its neighborhoods, and re-energize our economy. By making Pennsylvania a magnet for immigrants, we will become a more vibrant, more creative, and more dynamic competitor in today’s global economy. We work closely with government agencies, service providers, employers, business associations, trade unions, and economic development groups.”
— Hillary Black, Editor