Summer 2024
The summer always seems to be a great time for RAP families and volunteers. With warmer weather comes the opportunity to explore the outdoors and to enjoy each other's company. We're always thankful to be able to strengthen existing relationships and build new friendships.
We kicked off the summer season with a very special graduation party at the home of RAP volunteers, Charlie and Mary Baumann.
We were all there to celebrate the amazing success of three young women from Rwanda. Comfort, Reality and Thuryah, along with sisters Confidence and Gift and mom Aisha, arrived in the US in 2018.
Comfort graduated from Rutgers with a degree in mechanical engineering and is working for Pratt and Whitney. Reality, also a Rutgers grad, earned a degree in accounting and is working for Deloitte. Thurrayah graduated from high school and is attending Essex County Community College before earning her bachelor’s degree.
The three graduates along with their sister Confidence who attends Notre Dame.
It's not a party without a cake.
RAP continued its tradition of helping to send exceptional refugee teens to Outward Bound's Leadership Program for an immersive two-week experience at the Delaware Water Gap.
This year Andrii, a 17-year-old senior from Ukraine, went off on his adventure fully equipped with everything he needed thanks to the generous donations we received. We heard from him when he returned: “It was beautiful on the lake, thank you for everything. I had a great time!”
Thanks to generous donations, Andrii went off to camp fully equipped and looking good!
Andrii took this selfie with his fellow campers at his favorite spot.
Thanks to RAP volunteer Shege Haxhaj and her husband, Faton Bauta, 13 kids from five RAP families got the soccer experience of a lifetime.
Faton is the General Manager of NJ United, a professional soccer team and he and Shege hosted the kids, parents and RAP volunteers for a day of fun.The kids got pointers from the players and then stayed to watch the game. Several kids acted as “ball boys” (although some were girls) during the actual game, retrieving balls that went out-of-bounds.
At the goal line with some of the players.
Playing with the pros.
A family of six from Afghanistan is enjoying new-found independence thanks to an anonymous donation of a no-longer needed vehicle.
Sohail and Sofia and their four children are thrilled with their 2009 Highlander Toyota. Both Sohail and Sofia are drivers (RAP helped pay for Sofia’s driving lessons) and they decided to put the car in Sofia’s name to further encourage her sense of achievement.
On the day they received the vehicle, Sohail said “ Thank you, thank you. The people at RAP give to us, but you don't expect anything in return. I just have no words to say enough thanks."
Proud owner Sofia with her new Toyota Highlander.
The freedom of the road awaits Sohail.
Food and friends are always a good way to celebrate World Refugee Day.
This year, we invited families and volunteers to share their cultural heritage through song, food, story, dress, etc. Hosted by Fanwood Presbyterian Church, we enjoyed a bountiful buffet of international dishes, listened to stories of back home, and even sang a rousing rendition of Ireland’s lullaby, Tura Lura Lura .
Everyone enjoyed the mix of traditional dishes.
Hanadi spoke about her memories of Sudan
It seems the cost of going back to school gets higher and higher each year.
We know that expense can be beyond the reach of many of our refugee families, especially those with several kids in school. That’s why we hold an annual fund-raiser to help purchase necessary supplies.
This year our generous donors came through as always and we were able to purchase 19 backpacks full of grade-appropriate supplies. They went to kids ages 4-18, representing Congo, Afghanistan, Syria and Sudan.
Many of those backpacks were distributed on a field trip to Ellis Island where kids learned about the experiences of earlier refugees.
Ndona from Congo is ready to help distribute supply-packed backpacks at Ellis Island.