The Network at Work

​In the spring, an article ran in KIN's e-newsletter explaining the "network" and how it functions. So, how is that going? Does the network work?....

Not only does it work, it works well: facilitating relationships to support acquisition of individual needs, sharing resources so each volunteer doesn't individually have to beat the bushes to find them, and sharing systems and processes information (healthcare, insurance, government assistance) so new volunteers learn from what others have already discovered.

Check out these examples of the network at work:*

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• Single African mom, Bahati, received needed furniture and household goods for her 5-person family after connections were made with 2 KIN partner organizations.
• Nabil, Afri and their 6 adult children received health insurance cards after completion of forms, through KIN assistance, for each individual.
• 8-yr-old Noor had her eyes tested and received glasses after her KIN tutor realized her struggle to read was not related to language challenges.
• Hakem, who played professional soccer in Afghanistan, is now playing on an Emerald Youth Foundation team, in preparation to play for One Knox SC, after someone from his KIN Embrace group connected him.
• Malik got a job at Chick-fil-A after a KIN friend introduced him to the manager.
• Carlos brought his math grade from a D to a C last spring after just one month of tutoring with his KIN LaMP (Language and Mentoring Partner), who applied as a volunteer in order to share his math abilities.
• Miriam learned to drive after a brave KIN volunteer offered to ride with her after she got her permit.
• Nabila, Mona & Zari received a cozy place to live when a KIN volunteer couple opened their home for 2 months until permanent housing was found.
• Married couple and UT students, Asad & Hadara, from Nigeria, tried queso for the first time with their new Knoxville friends, who enjoy cooking and eating together.
• When the Department of Child Services contacted KIN about Fabio, a Hispanic student recently placed in foster care, he was enrolled in KIN's ELL Summer Youth Camp where he made friends and learned English for 6 weeks.

*names changed to protect privacy

Connections are made every day as KIN volunteers and partners work with our local international friends to learn English, build friendships, and help them move toward better integration. In the end, we hope these connections will help our new friends feel welcome, like family - even 'kin'.