TRP Program Highlight - Circle of Friends
TRP’s core programming niche is volunteer engagement that facilitates community development. Our focus is to provide training and opportunity for volunteers to experience friendship and association with local refugee populations (and vice versa) in a way that promotes successful, positive integration and bridge building with a community development mindset. Toward that end, here is a recap of TRP’s main focus areas:
Circle of Friends
TRP pairs small groups of American volunteers with refugee families. The primary function of a Circle of Friends community is to build bridges by serving as friends, liaisons, advocates, and cultural informants. The primary outcome of a Circle of Friends is to develop reciprocating relationships that enrich both the American and refugee populations through the exchange of friendship and community orientation.
Historically, a Circle of Friends activity has encompassed activities such as:
*Helping with job search and the application process
*Helping with housing needs
*Assistance with setting up bank accounts
*Providing transportation for shopping and appointments
*Explaining American culture
*Helping to learn English
Members of Circle of Friends typically learn much:
*About themselves
*About other cultures
*About global issues of politics and poverty
Measurable Outcomes for 2010
*14 orientation sessions completed for effective volunteer engagement
*35 people attended the orientation sessions from various churches
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