I have had the pleasure of being part of the Paper Airplanes community since the summer of tenth grade. As the tutor coordinator for my high school's Youth Exchange program chapter, I lead weekly meetings to share tutoring experiences, discuss the refugee crisis, and exchange teaching stories and strategies. As a result, I've become a leader in fostering not only cross-cultural connections on my school's campus, but also educational empowerment across the globe. By means of a simple Skype call, I've watched my peers dispel preconceptions about refugees and their experiences, and I am excited to have created a group on my campus that actively advocates for the empowerment of refugees.
As an English tutor, my experiences with Paper Airplanes have also made my love for teaching grow. Through weekly lessons, I am able to see the impact of my tutoring efforts firsthand while working with my student, and I'm proud to play a role in bridging the educational gap refugee youth face today. The face-to-face interactions Paper Airplanes makes possible is unlike any other. They have given me a new outlook on the refugee crisis by allowing me to see it through the eyes of those who experience it.
Paper Airplanes has taught me the value of patience, empathy, and cross-cultural understanding. I could not be more grateful to this organization for the tutoring experiences I've had. Paper Airplanes is an organization that has not only given me the chance to teach English, but has also opened the doors to new connections and friendships through the power of language.
- Nadine Fattah, Youth Exchange Program tutor coordinator and tutor