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More than a Shelter, A Learning Center that Helps the Healing Begin
Written by
Maryann Sinkler
, Special to Redcross.org
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 — BATON ROUGE, La. – “First Aid for Feelings” is the story being read to young Hurricane Katrina Survivors by American Red Cross volunteers at a makeshift school in the building they also call home for now.
Thanks to the combined efforts of three Red Cross volunteers, parents were able to enroll their children in math, reading and physical education classes as the interim school began early this week.
When Dr. Nabil Murad arrived at the River Center shelter in Baton Rouge, La., he saw there were hundreds of school-aged children and immediately recognized a need to give them something to focus on – they needed a school.
(Photo Credit: Marty Robey/American Red Cross) |
Upon arriving in the River Center shelter about a week ago, Dr. Nabil Murad, a Red Cross volunteer out of the Heartland Chapter in Omaha, Neb., saw there were hundreds of school-aged children in the shelter and recognized a need. As it became clear they would be there for awhile, an idea began to evolve – the children needed something to focus on. They needed a school.
Murad began to enlist help. He found two more Red Crossers, Fernando Napoles of Sacramento, Calif., and Jeff Jacobs of Long Beach, Calif. Despite their long, laborious hours in the shelter and having few resources at their disposal, the three men shared the same vision. They became determined to create an educational facility.
Now known as the “Kids Education and Activities Program at the River Center,” the education center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for children five to 13 years of age. AmeriCorp members – currently Red Cross volunteers – sit at registration tables tracking new students and ensuring that they have permission slips signed by parents.
The program operates with a focus on safety, security and services and addresses principles of personal and educational wellness and social interaction.
“Everyday we improve,” Murad notes. “We want the kids to feel comfortable with the program here.”
Immediately upon opening, 80 children enrolled with numbers quickly swelling to 192. Numbers have since declined as many children are now transitioning into local school systems. Remaining students are those whose parents feel that the school in the shelter is doing an effective job and those who aren’t ready – be it physically, mentally, emotionally or financially – to leave the shelter.
At noon each day, ten round tables are decorated with Styrofoam containers, napkins and juice boxes. Just like any normal school, students walk in single-file lines, chattering about their morning lessons. But, these children have lived through extraordinary experiences – some being rescued from rooftops, some wondering about missing family members. Attending the school is their break too, from parents who are distraught and under enormous stress.
Murad explained that he sees the children’s emotions come out during the school day and acts on them. Children in need of mental or physical health care are connected with those services in the building to get the attention they need.
Red Cross Omar Mohammed works with children at the River Center shelter in Baton Rouge, La., as part of the “Kids Education and Activities Program,” making survivor bracelets.
(Photo Credit: Marty Robey/American Red Cross) |
Along those lines, Red Cross volunteer Omar Mohammed sits with children making survivor bracelets out of beads. He wants them to have hope that they will be okay. He wants to make bracelets with their parents too since their emotional healing will have a huge impact on the children’s well being.
Murad, Napoles and Jacobs have created something special in the River Center shelter. To be sure it continues after they go home, they have worked through the Mayor’s office to secure 26 weeks of funding for three to four local teachers to be hired.
The efforts of the Red Cross volunteers in creating and operating the “Kids Educational and Activities Program” in the River Center are unprecedented. The rewards are the smiling faces of the children who have lost everything, but who are learning that they will survive through the generosity of strangers.
Maryann Sinkler is with the Central Iowa Chapter in Des Moines, Iowa.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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