Reviving Our Youths’ Aspirations (ROYA) Program

 

In 2008 the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI) established its youth services program: Reviving Our Youths’ Aspirations (ROYA), named in memory of Roya Forouzesh, who was a close supporter of the clinic and a counselor who passionately worked with at-risk youth and their families.

The purpose of the ROYA program was to promote resiliency, help youth develop their full potentials, and train our future leaders. The ROYA program helped these youth build their self-esteem and confidence, developed more effective communication and coping skills, and repaired family relationships. Participating youth also learned to set goals and get the individualized support they need to stay in school, finish high school or get their GED, enroll in college, and, ultimately, become productive citizens and community leaders.

Our prevention and early intervention program focused on reducing involvement in crime and gangs, drug and alcohol abuse, student dropouts, teen pregnancy and sexual exploitation. ROYA provided at-risk children and youth with individual and group counseling, case management, mentoring, tutoring, job readiness, housing, and other support services, in conjunction with family counseling and parent education.

 
 

Children

The ROYA Children’s Program was formed in 2011 as an outgrowth of CERI’s work with Cambodian teens.

Children’s Program clients met once a week. During a regular session, their time together began with a healthy snack and some play time. They then did homework together and participated in a discussion group. Discussion topics often focused on the importance of staying in school and getting an education, identity development, gang prevention, and how to build a meaningful life. Topics often expanded to include family life, particularly the choices made by older siblings who are, for many, involved in gangs and criminal activity. Often, the children went on field trips to the CERI community garden at Laney College and to nearby parks, supervised by ROYA staff. CERI also provided individual counseling, case management, coordination with parents and school.

Young Men

Formed in 2011, the ROYA Young Men’s Group served young men who were at risk for gang involvement. Most were sons or grandsons of CERI clients, while others were classmates who were also from refugee families (Burmese, Vietnamese, Guatemalan, Salvadoran, and Mexican). All of our clients were from high-poverty, high-crime neighborhoods in Oakland where gangs and violence are a daily reality.

The Young Men’s Group had an enrollment of 12 young men, with eight clients who attended regularly. The group was held once a week on Wednesdays from 2 to 6pm. Activities consist of eating a healthy snack, talking about what has happened over the past week, discussing guns, gangs, violence, and peer pressure, tutoring and helping with homework, job readiness, weekly outings, and eating dinner together.

 

Young Women

The ROYA Young Women’s Group, formed in 2011, aimed to prevent women from being drawn into a life of sexual exploitation, drugs and crime. The group served 12 young women (10 Cambodian and 2 Burmese) from refugee families. All of these young women were between the ages of 17 and 24. Three young women were students still in high school, three were in community college, and one was working while pursuing her GED. The other five clients were not in school.

The Young Women’s Group met once a month for a sleepover at CERI, arriving at 5pm on Friday and leaving around 9pm the following day. The event started with a circle check-in led by a CERI educator, after which the group discusses life management issues, personal and educational goals, communication and conflict resolution issues, and how to avoid high-risk behavior and situations. Throughout, the young women cooked together and ate together. In between our monthly group meetings, these clients saw a CERI counselor or educator, had home visits, and went on field trips and outings with CERI staff.

Young Mothers

The ROYA Young Mothers Program addressed the complex needs of young parents from highly-traumatized and isolated refugee and immigrant families. The program included:

  • Full time case management.

  • Weekly individual therapy sessions.

  • A weekly mother and child bonding program.

  • A weekly mother’s support group with children playdates.

  • Regular outdoor and nature outings.

  • Regular educational workshops (including family planning, nutrition, pregnancy, breast feeding, food safety and encouraging positive communication).

All services were offered free of charge, with interpreters provided.

Our goal was to provide needed resources, mentoring, and support to end the cycle of trauma which causes violence, sexual exploitation and alcohol and drug abuse among underprivileged youth from refugee and immigrant families in East and West Oakland.