“Jasmine, my dream is to build an orphanage one day so that I can help children in need.” This is what my Syrian student, who is now living in Turkey, mentioned during our weekly mentorship session. Diversity and inclusivity are integral in ensuring and maintaining accessibility to education among marginalized people.Paper Airplanes is an excellent example that illustrates the direct relationship between technical advancements and increased access to education worldwide. It made online classes accessible to individuals affected by conflict, especially amid the international lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a mentor with Paper Airplanes, I conduct weekly English lessons to students in areas affected by conflict, utilizing a variety of educational resources provided to us during our intensive orientation program. I am here to ensure that all individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, race and income status, are able to accomplish their dreams, and one way I am doing this is by working with Paper Airplanes to provide equal access to personal and professional development programs.
During my employment with the Canadian Red Cross, I sought opportunities to teach English to refugees and immigrants. While researching these opportunities during the lockdown, I recall reaching out to Paper Airplanes to express my interest in applying for a leadership role. I began conducting English lessons with a student during the fall semester, and to this day, I am proud to be volunteering with Paper Airplanes. My experience as a mentor has enabled me to reflect on ways that nonprofit organizations like Paper Airplanes have increased access to education through technology. We are making an effort to create social impact by bringing diverse groups of people together to network and collaborate with each other.
"Our interactions with students have confirmed that distance is not a barrier to education. Rather, when we invest our time and expertise to connect with students remotely and help them improve their English skills, we break down that barrier."
Mentoring my student during COVID-19 turned out to be the most remarkable experience in my career working with nonprofits. As I recall our conversation, she once said, “Jasmine, you’re the only person within my network with whom I can practice my English communication skills.” This made me realize that I am creating real social impact by using my time and effort to help her enhance her skills, which she can use to further advance her academic and professional careers. During class, she was able to express her opinions on important subjects, including festivals, cultural integration, employment opportunities, racial discrimination, gender roles, global warming, climate change, and the valuable leadership roles that exist within society. For her, every lesson, which included visual and written material, was an opportunity for her to advance her English skills.
I look forward to starting yet another journey with Paper Airplanes in the field of research and helping individuals in conflict-affected areas improve their English skills. Paper Airplanes has instilled an immense level of self-confidence in me as a mentor, and it has made a difference by encouraging their students and team members to network, make connections, advance their careers, and interact with each other.
About the author: Jasmine Sethi
I'm Jasmine, an advocate for social change. As a business consultant, I provide taxation, legal, educational, and web development services to clients. As an educational consultant, I work with nonprofit organizations to deliver personal development programs to individuals in conflict-affected areas. As an academic researcher, I specialize in writing about high-level and complex subjects relevant to social change. I assist independent organizations by providing consulting services to improve the delivery of their programs. I am a lifelong learner and am currently learning more about the humanitarian field at Ryerson University.
The views and opinions represented in this post belong solely to the author of the blog post, and are not representative of the views and policies of Paper Airplanes and its staff members.