is non-profit organization that began with a youth initiative to support refugee youth in Burlington, Vermont. was founded in the fall of 2012 by four high school seniors who were inspired to make an everlasting impact on their community. Upon returning from a summer trip to Serbia and Hungary with the U.S. Department of State Youth Leadership Program with Central Europe (YLPCE), Riya and Patrick had the idea of developing a program to support the refugee youth of their community. They shared their vision with their two friends, Annika, who had participated in the Iraqi Young Leadership Exchange Program, and Brandon, who was involved with YLPCE when European participants visited Vermont; and the four joined together in this youth initiative. Aware of the cultural tension and isolation that refugees feel, they created a buddy program where high school volunteers and refugee youth interact in pairs and in structured group environments. Participants will take group field trips and buddy pairs will spend time together experiencing Vermont. The program includes partnering with local business to expose the refugee youth to art, music, sports, and other aspects of culture. They hope to expose the refugees to different activities that they don’t generally have the opportunity to experience so they can find their passions, and to help them create friendships that will change their lives.
