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Real Life in Salt Lake City (RLSLC)
Real Life in SLC was a life changing experience for me. It taught me to accept people the way they are and how to learn from other cultures. I was also able to practice patience, kindness and leadership while also learning how to just be myself.
–Alexandra Holden, Juan Diego High School, Cambodia 2011 |
Following Youthlinc’s dedication to local service – annually contributing almost 12,000 hours of service state-wide – we are proud to partner with the Hser Ner Moo Community Center of South Salt Lake in a ‘flagship’ local service program called Real Life in Salt Lake City (RLSLC).
RLSLC began in February 2010, and allows Youthlinc students the opportunity to mentor and tutor refugee teens. The Real Life curriculum focuses on life skills (such as health, hygiene, career development, financial literacy) and cultural exchange through friendships formed through sport, the arts, and social activities. Youthlinc and the Hser Ner Moo Center work cooperatively to develop the project based curriculum.
Needs met:
- Few programs focus on refugee teens, though the population is high risk. This demographic suffers from high drop-out levels, gang involvement and the risk of becoming involved in practices that are detrimental to personal and social development. Refugee youth face language, cultural, and educational barriers. The overwhelming majority of refugee programs direct their attention to elementary age children or the adults in the family. The RLSLC Program strives toward providing this demographic with fun, educational and applicable lessons and activities that will help them become successful in their adult life and well adjusted contributing members of society.
I liked Real Life because it is fun and I learn new things. I love playing games and having new friends. And I learned how to get a job. I learned how to present myself, dress nice, speak well and talk about my skills.
–Grace Sudi, 14, Congo
- The program provides leadership opportunities for Utah youth. Youthlinc students volunteering in the Service Year design and teach the lessons and activities (mentored and supervised by staff) and contribute their time to the program. Many of the refugee students come from countries Youthlinc serves, and Youthlinc students can test-drive the international activities they are planning at Hser Ner Moo Center. This also allows Youthlinc students to share their passions and talents with the students they are mentoring as well as with their peers.
I had the opportunity to work with the kids on a lesson about health and fitness. We did aerobics and worked on some dance moves. It was such a blast to watch the kids get to move around and combine their energy and creativity. It was amazing to see how movement and music has the potential to bring kids out of their shells, just like it does for me.”
–Hannah Losser, Westminster College
With the guidance of the Mondo Art Project, RLSLC and Youthlinc participants will continue an art enrichment and expression program throughout the 2011-2012 Service Year. The Mondo Art Project initiates an art exchange that allows the RLSLC students to exchange art work with students in other countries. The exchange will take place again summer 2012 during each two week Youthlinc service trip. Youthlinc will work with Mondo Art Project, our Rotarian in-country coordinators, community leaders and teachers in each international village to institute sustainable art instruction and regular opportunities for artistic expression for children.
If you would like to volunteer with RLSLC you can expect to participate in some fun activities, gain leadership experience through the planning and implementing of curriculum and have the opportunity to share your interests and talents. Here are some activities that RLSLC did this past year:
Activities from 2010-2011 Service Year with RLSLC |
- Grocery and bargain shopping
- Going to the bank
- How to plan and save for your future
- Nutrition
- Yoga
- Hip-Hop dance Class
- Swimming
- Sports
- Goal setting and aspirations
- Journal writing
- One on one discussions
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- Group games
- Movies
- University of Utah scavenger hunt
- Resume building
- Scholarships search
- Mock job and college interviews
- Friendship building games and activities
- Anti-bullying discussions
- Liberty Park
- Museum of Natural History
- Visual Institute Art Classes
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- Photography scavenger hunt at The Gateway
- Ice Skating
- Cooking classes
- Country line dancing
- Skits
- T-Shirt design competition
- Service project at Utah Food Bank
- Cultural sharing days: food, games, clothing, dance, music
- Welcome bags for new refugee families
- Art expression
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We are very grateful for the past and present program sponsors for making such a valuable impact on this important program: GE Money Bank, American Express, Larry H. Miller Charities, Wells Fargo Bank, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Foundation and The Burton Foundation.
To get involved with the RLSLC program and support Utah’s refugee population please contact our Local Service Director: office@youthlinc.org |
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