Reid Park Zoo Visit with Refugees
United Way Days of Caring was October 8th this year and this is when hundreds of people and companies volunteer a day to reach out to the greater Tucson community. Through The Volunteer Center's website, First UCC invited people to host refugees to a fun day at the Reid Park Zoo. Monsoon Marketing and a group called Sisters made up nearly 20 volunteers who joined Barbara and the Barzeeles at the Zoo. We were about 75 strong and had friends from Liberia, Afgansistan, Burundi, Rwanda, and of course Somali Bantu from Somalia. We arranged for their free entrance. The volunteers picked them up and provided lunch for them from the Zoo kitchen and all had a wonderful day. The elders were so thrilled for the little ones to see animals from home. Lots of language exchange and cultural sharing. It was superb especially Barbara learning the animal names in sign language from her new friend, Madina, who is completely deaf and cannot speak. The volunteer photographer documented every animal Madina recognized at the zoo.
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| Refugees and volunteers at the Reid Park Zoo | Barbara with some of the kids |