Jan. 2021: Bridging the Remote-Learning Language Barrier

As part of BCNH’s effort to make remote learning work, we provided 10 laptops to Rohingya students in Nashua.

On November 17, after most schools had been closed for months, BCNH emailed a notice to teachers, guidance counselors, and principals in Manchester and Nashua with the headline: Let Us Help You Reach and Teach Refugee Students and Parents. The flier included the names, cell phone numbers, and email addresses of BCNH’s case managers.

The next day, case manager Mohammad Mustak Arif got an email:

Good Afternoon,

My name is Casey Woodward, I am hoping to get some assistance for a family that I work with at school. The family is Rohingya and we have been trying to get in touch with them about their child who we are concerned about. He has not been coming to classes or completing work.

Do you think you would be able to assist me in trying to help and support this family?

That afternoon, Arif noted:

Called back to Casey and collected the student info and issue. Scheduled three-way phone call with the parent.

The next morning, Arif noted:

Three-way phone call with the parent and School Counselor who told the parent the student was missing 61 classes and assignments. Scheduled home visit.

The following Monday afternoon:

Visit the student's home and met student and parent. The School Counselor shows how to reach out if the student is missing class.  Answers questions. Shows the parent how to look at the student's time online and how to see online classes.

This was one of dozens of calls and emails we received from teachers and guidance counselors during the six weeks of the program, which had been funded by a last-minute CARES Act grant from the NH Department of Education.  Arif (originally from the Rohingya regions of Burma), Bishnu Khadka (originally from Bhutan), and Eric Irakiza (originally Democratic Republic of Congo), responded to all of them with their language skills, problem-solving experience, and commitment to serve their communities.

They helped the parents talk to the children’s teachers.  The BCNH staff showed the adults and students how to use their computers and to submit their homework.  They explained to parents why students sometimes had to quarantine if the school thought they might have been exposed to COVID.  The case managers’ notes list the phone calls, the emails, and the Zoom meetings they initiated to help the students succeed in school.  The most typical conclusion to these exchanges: “the father understood.”  That’s a good start.

Unfortunately, all New Hampshire CARES Act projects had to stop on December 30.  BCNH needs unrestricted donations to continue this life-changing work.