Last summer, two unlikely friends met on Buffalo’s West Side. Fadzai, a 6 year old originally from Zimbabwe and Holly Sharifoglu, a social work major at SUNY Buffalo State spent mornings together for four weeks in July and August in the Buffalo Beginnings program.
A collaboration between the SUNY Buffalo State Community Academic Center, Journey’s End Refugee Services, and Buffalo Pubic Schools, Buffalo Beginnings provides educational supports to P-12 newcomer refugee youth in their first year living in the United States. Holly became aware of Buffalo Beginnings after enrolling in the Podolefsky AmeriCorps ABLE program supporting Buffalo State student to engage in extended service opportunities and receive a education award. She was excited to learn from working within the burgeoning refugee communities in Buffalo. Along with her fellow Podolefsky ABLE members and CAC staff, Holly worked with small groups of children enrolled in the program.
Since 2012 Buffalo Beginnings has engaged 31 Buffalo State students to support over 200 local refugee children living in Buffalo. While Fadzai graduated from the summer program in August 2016, the Buffalo Beginnings program continues with a new group of Buffalo State Podolefsky ABLEs and newcomer youth this fall.
30 Days of Giving 2016
- Day 1: Cortland Perspective on Poverty
- Day 2: Chef & Child at Erie Community College
- Day 3: Elder Care at SUNY Delhi
- Day 4: Be the Match at Morrisville
- Day 5: Food for Parking at Fulton-Montgomery Community College
- Day 6: Supporting Refugee Students at Buffalo State
- Day 7: Honoring a Historic Legacy With a Day Of Service at Old Westbury
- Day 8: Art in Vacant Spaces from Purchase College
- Day 9: Global Day of Service at Binghamton
- Day 10: Artistic Collaboration at Dutchess CC
- Day 11: Athletes Pitch In To Community Service at Cayuga CC
- Day 12: Feeding the Community at System Admin
- Day 13: Maritime Cadets Help Intrepid Museum
- Day 14: Filling an Empty Stocking at Empire State College
- Day 15: A Children's Christmas at Herkimer County Community College
- Day 16: Student Nurse Mentoring at Farmingdale State
- Day 17: Healthy Athletes Program at HVCC
- Day 18: Opening a Food Pantry at Oswego
- Day 19: Donating Books for Children at UAlbany
- Day 20: Arts & Crafts with Girls Inc. at Schenectady County Community College
- Day 21: Teddy Bear Toss at Geneseo
- Day 22: SUNY Canton Lending a Hand at St Mary's Church
- Day 23: Helping a Student in Need at Adirondack Community College
- Day 24: Alfred State Celebrates Service
- Day 25: Baby & Toddler Clothing Pantry at Monroe Community College
- Day 26: Adopt-A-Family at SUNY Orange County Community College
- Day 27: Free Dental Care for Veterans at UBuffalo
- Day 28: Fashion Design for Disabled Women at FIT
- Day 29: Care Packages for the Troops at Fredonia
- Day 30: A Spirit of Giving Throughout Ulster County Community College
- BONUS: Holiday Food Boxes at Rockland Community College
