On Monday, April 7, FIRM was
pleased to welcome 54 8th and
9th graders, and their teachers,
from the San Francisco Friends
School for an afternoon of
cultural learning, service and
sharing of food and dance! Part
of a Spring Break visit to a number of communities in the Central Valley, the students learned about the refugee journey– and how FIRM’s programs seek to assist refugee community members here in Fresno. Then they pitched in to help and serve, by weeding around our property, vacuuming and cleaning our office, washing our tables and chairs and interacting with our community gardeners, learning about Asian vegetables and harvesting some for our evening meal. Students also helped in the kitchen, learning how to prepare sticky rice and jeo mak len, as well as preparing and offering foods from their cultures for the meal, including chutney, dal, tortillas and fruit salad. The day finished with the sharing of food and traditional Lao dance and costumes. This is the third year in a row that a group from the Friends School has come to FIRM, and we look forward to hosting another group next year!