Refugee Teen Empowerment Program

The International Institute of Buffalo, the Youth Character Development Foundation, and Daemen College are partnering in a leadership program for 25 refugee high school students from Grover Cleveland High School. The program, which is funded by the Bettina Weary Foundation, is in its second year. The goal of this leadership training is to enable refugee students to adjust to American society and succeed in school, on the job, and in our community.

To reach this goal, the program has several components: 

Education Component, including a tour of Daemen College and a meeting with the Admissions Counselor to discuss SAT preparation, scholarships, college life, etc.

Employment and mentoring component, including discussion of employment opportunities, volunteering, professional appearance and conduct

Personal responsibility component, which includes discussions about violence, bullying, staying out of trouble with the law, and related topics

Citizenship component, involving presentations on what it means to become a US citizen and how to apply for it

Additional topics include building self-confidence, public speaking, improving communication skills, and managing peer pressure. The students will also be eligible for one college credit upon completion of the program.

The program uses a Dale Carnegie Curriculum and other sources. Guest speakers from various agencies participate in the sessions, which is held this year at Grover Cleveland High School. A graduation ceremony will be held at the end of the 12-week program.