For many refugees and New Americans who are just arriving in Central New York, beginning school in a new country can be intimidating, especially if you don’t speak the language.

In Syracuse, Northside CYO’s "Welcome Academy" is helping make that transition less stressful for students. The program is a partnership between the Syracuse City School District and Catholic Charities.

Abdullahi Ibrahim is a nationality worker and translator for the Syracuse City School District. He leads the welcome academy.

“It’s all about them, so today we have a topic about greetings and it’s all about me,” he says of the day’s lesson.  

The Welcome Academy covers the basics, like identifying school supplies, teaching students to share their names and where they came to the U.S. by using English. They also receive a donated backpack and school supplies.

The program also touches on more complex conversations students might have once they get to school, like how to discuss their favorite activities and make social connections with other students.

“Some of them mention that they like to play sports, some of them [say] they like to learn, some of them like different kinds of sports, like the gym," said Ibrahim.

Ibrahim says he must use his own experiences and expertise to start from zero and preparing students for a school day that may look nothing like anything they have seen in their home countries.

“The students are coming from different educational backgrounds and they have different educational needs, so this program is very important for them to walk into the Syracuse City School District,” he said.

As a parent of students in the Syracuse City School District himself, Ibrahim says he has made it a mission to ensure all students, no matter their background, have the opportunity to thrive both socially and academically.

“I am proud to be here and be part of their lives, I am a hardworking parent and I want to see them succeed in their lives and in their education,” said Ibrahim.

The Welcome Academy is offered multiple times a year, running for about two weeks each. It is made possible, in part, by a state grant from the Refugee and Immigrant School Welcome Program.