As part of a recent article about funding cuts impacting the PRYSE summer program run by the local nonprofit ARYSE, Pittsburgh’s Public Source interviewed three of PRYSE‘s summer camp counselors. (Public Source is identifying refugees by first name only due to privacy and safety concerns.)
Read the full article about PRYSE here and read below to hear what these camp counselors shared:
ESTHER: Esther, 16, is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and has been involved with ARYSE since she moved to the U.S. in 2022. When she attended camp for the first time, she thought to herself, “Why is this going so fast? I just want to stay there all day.”
The youngest of nine, Esther likes being a leader and says she’s good at giving advice, which is why she’s excited to be a junior counselor this summer. She says the experience at PRYSE Academy is so enjoyable because, “even though people are coming from different cultures, at this summer camp … they’re all loving each other [and] choosing each other equally.”
REOL: Reol, 20, is from the Central African Republic and moved to the U.S. in 2023. He credits ARYSE with helping him improve his English and lessen his fear of expressing himself.
He found it helpful to be in the company of people in the same position, and who wouldn’t judge him if he made a mistake while speaking. He said he hopes to “lead by example” this summer, showing that a language barrier is “not a problem.”
“You can be able to do anything you desire by speaking multiple languages,” he said.
He’s getting ready to attend Pitt in the fall and study cybersecurity, but his real career goal? Continuing to work at the nonprofit.
FAHIMA: Fahima, 19, is from Afghanistan and moved to the U.S. in 2022. She says many of her friendships originated from her time with ARYSE.
Like others Public Source spoke to, she experienced a surge in confidence after attending the organization’s English language development lessons and activities that facilitated strong bonds between participants.
Fahima will be working as a junior counselor this summer, explaining that she was largely motivated to return because she likes teaching, but also joked with the reporter about her other reasons: “Well, we all know one of them is money.”