International Studies Students Are on a Mission to Give Back

College Park Scholars’ 2021 annual Service Day inspired BSOS students in the International Studies (IS) program to more frequently and officially serve migrant and refugee youths in the area by establishing a new Terps Community Mentoring program  

Sophomore Economics major Aryan Munot had the opportunity to volunteer alongside mentors from Lutheran Social Services (LSS)—a program that seeks to provide support for migrant and refugee families in the Washington, D.C. area— during the 2021 College Park Scholars’ annual Service Day; an experience that opened Munot’s eyes to the needs of the College Park children in the program, and inspired him to help create the Terps Community Mentoring Program (TCM) that following spring semester. 

In addition to tutoring, teaching English, and helping provide a safe space for migrant and refugee children living in the Parkview Garden Apartments like they had for the first time that summer, the Terps Community Mentoring program—which is currently serving 50 children and is in the process of gaining University of Maryland Student Government Association recognition in order to continue their efforts with greater financial resources—also decided to offer fun, engaging activities such as arts and crafts and playing sports. 

“This was to make sure the children were comfortable with us and to get to know what life was like for them, while also letting them know more about American culture,” Munot said.

Fatou Sall, a sophmore IS student and Neurobiology and Physiology major, says one of her favorite TCM experiences came during a rainy day that gave the kids an opportunity to draw whatever made them happy. 

“We sat inside and drew our favorite superheroes, flowers and animals,” she recalled. “Afterwards, we hung the drawings up on the wall and all the kids were so proud and excited to see their artwork displayed and appreciated.” 

To Munot, getting to know the kids is key. 

“Making connections with people that have gone through so much in a short amount of time in their lives, it gives you that empathetic sort of feeling which makes you want to keep coming back to the program,” he said.

Empathy is a sentiment that also stands out to sophomore Criminology and Criminal Justice and Psychology major Julia Schwartz, who says that her time with TCM has given her an idea of how to use her own privilege and life experiences to help others.

IS assistant director and TCM faculty advisor Sarah Kilmer says that these IS students aren’t just learning leadership, communication, and problem solving skills, they’re also learning how to become great global citizens. 

“These students take hours out of their busy weekends to volunteer with the kids and they come back each week because they have fun and feel a sense of pride in what they are doing,” Kilmer, who met the Pope while at a Rome Refugee and Migrant Education conference she hopes to have TCM students attend in the future, said. “They want to contribute to the common good and welcome others into our Terp and Prince George’s County community.”  

Although TCM is run primarily by IS students, all UMD students are invited to join, especially considering Munot's wish to see TCM expand to more communities around UMD and Maryland. Paniz Nafisi, TCM member and senior Biology and Government and Politics major, agrees. 

“Every child in our community deserves access to proper support and mentorship,” she said. “Encouragement is essential to education and being able to provide that to more students would make a great impact.”

This article was written by Sofia Appolonio, JOUR '26.

Main photo of Fatou Sall playing with sidewalk chalk is by Sarah Kilmer.

Published on Sun, Nov 27, 2022 - 8:56AM