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Show 4 CAMPUS Youth line's FORUMFORTNIGHTLY.COM Real Life in SLC program, where students mentor refugee teens. Student receives the Newman Civic Fellow Award in recognition of service Jerika Michel: dedicated to finding the 'root of the problem' Justina McCandless Editor-in-Chi- ef The first time she went to Kenya, they drove into the village of red dirt and straw huts with a chorus of hundreds of children singing to the humanitarian groups arrival and after that, she just fell in love with the people. Now Jerika Michel, psychology major and recent recipient of the Newman Civic Fellow Award, is going back to Kenya. At first she wanted to stay for six months or a year, but her parents persuaded her to go for a more reasonable amount of time: a little over two months. While there Michel will single handedly help Youthlinc, a local humanitarian organization, transition from one site in Kenya to another. They dont want communities to become dependent on them coming every year, so they stay for four or five years and then they change to a new site, Michel said. Youthlinc also takes young humanitarian groups to sites in Mexico, Peru, Cambodia and Thailand. Michel could have gone to any of these sites as an Alumni Leader on her second trip, but she wants to have more experience with the people in Kenya. Im not going to say Im changing this community or Im changing or solving their problems. Its more like Im going because I want to learn from them and I want to experience what their way of life is, and so maybe its selfish motivations, Michel said, seeming to understate the profound amount of service she was about to under of an in-dep- th take. Michel will travel with the Youthlinc Kenya group for the first two weeks, but for six weeks after that, shes on her own traveling between Kiamuri and Kajuki Kenya. Im staying with Catholic nuns, Michel said, laughing. Im staying in Kajuki with Father Joe and Kiamuri with Sister Marie. She said shes. slighdy, really nervous... buts its important not to let fear keep you from doing things. While there Michel will be doing everything from finishing projects at the old site and analyzing the needs of the new site, to teaching young Kenyans about maturation and the dangers of female genital mutila- tion (FGM). I didnt want to go there and just bring stuff, I wanted to see what does your community need? Michel said, and Father Joe was the one that mentioned FGM and those kinds of issues. Shes taking at least a thousand reusable feminine pads with her, most of which were made through Relief Society groups from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints. The project just kind of boomed, Michel said. She said that when girls have their periods they have to stay home, they cant go to school or anywhere, because they dont have the supplies to deal with that. Their whole way jf life is different, Michel said. She said the people in Ke nya are very gracious, theyd be willing to give a chicken or some honey even when thats all they had. Theres also a really strong sense of community there because they depend on each other. said like Michel most Americans that she doesnt even know or talk to some of her neighbors, except to say hi once in awhile. . I just found my time in of Kenya really, really fulfilling because I dont know... its just different there, she said. In Salt Lake Michel has . done service through many outlets including a group called Women of the World; the Center for Civic Engagement; the Institute of Religion, and the Youthlinc program, Real The Westminster Institute held a Senior Bair at the Sarah Daft home for the elderly. Pictured areJerika Michel and Robert Waite. Michel worked with because Life in SLC. Real Life in SLC is a men- theyd only ever traded before. Not to mention the language toring program for refugee teens, and Michel has been working with Real Life since the program began in 2010. I think the reason Ive really gotten into the refugee community is because my grandparents moved here from Germany after World War II. . .and Ive been able to get to know their stories, Michel said. When they first came here Michels oma and opa were very poor, and they had to work two or three jobs to survive. It made me realize how hard it was to come to a new country, and there are lots of people that come here that are barrier. How scary is that to apply for a job if you cant read English? and now that many job applications are online, if you dont have, or never have used the Internet. Youthlincs Local Sendee Director, Julia Wee, said of Michel: I work with a lot of really inspiring people in my job, and she kind of just shines above everybody. Julie Tille, the director of the Center for Civic Engagement, nominated Michel for the Newman Civic Fellow Award because of her commitment to service throughout her time at college and even before suffering the same things, said. she Even the concept of currency was new to a refugee family then. The Newman Civic Fellow Award honors student leaders who are dedicated to solving problems facing their communities. Tille said Michel has the desire to understand The root of the problem. For example, one of Michels service projects was to grow an organic garden and then give the food to local shelters. She examines the whole issue versus just the hands-o- n service, said Tille. The most challenging part of service for Michel is trying to find a balance between school, and family, and work, and friends and volunteering. There are so many different directions you can be pulled, she said. But Michel continues to love service because Whenever you are involved with some- thing greater than yourself you find joy and you find purpose. |