Stories of Growth: Ahmed
This is one of our many “Stories of Growth” in our latest Giving Tuesday Series.
Ahmed never attended school prior to arriving in the U.S. Even after his arrival, due to medical concerns, Ahmed began his formal education at home. He was in sixth grade, and he started by learning the alphabet.
He was in sixth grade, and he started by learning the alphabet.
After a year, he began attending Horace Mann Middle School, and concurrently began coming to SDRT.
His tutor, David, who lives in North County, comes on both Tuesdays and Thursdays after work to tutor Ahmed. They are an uncanny pair — one older, the other younger; one introverted, the other extroverted; one a father to three, the other a sibling to six.
But they are inseparable and request to be paired even at field trips. Such relationships transcend social, cultural, economic, and geographic barriers, and are ubiquitous here at SDRT.
Such relationships transcend social, cultural, economic, and geographic barriers, and are ubiquitous here at SDRT.
Playing cards at a High School Hangout at SDRT 
Working with a tutor several years ago 
Pure joy at the Bridge to the Beach Event
San Diego Refugee Tutoring’s story is one of growth. Ten years ago, we tutored 10 kids once a week; today, we tutor 85 kids twice a week. But the greater story of growth is not our numbers but in our students themselves.
The kids who once avoided homework now eagerly come to tutoring seeking help. The ones who arrived in the US without knowing the English alphabet are now flying through chapter books. They come to tutoring and unfold their homework because they believe that they just might be able to do it. This growth in confidence cannot be quantified; it’s immeasurable.
SDRT is the only accessible academic support for most of our kids. Will you partner with us so we can continue to provide this valuable support for each and every one of our students?
“He was in sixth grade, and he started by learning the alphabet.” … and last night at tutoring, his mom came to tutoring to learn the alphabet… and Ahmed promised that he would help her review at home. 🙂
I love Ahmed.My wife and I had the privilege of taking Ahmed on 2 SDRT field trips.We took him to “beach day” and ice skating.Yes he is an extrovert but usually in a very quisitive way and therefore he seems to pick things up very fast. May God bless all the students and tutors.Thanks to SDRT and it’s volunteers for the great work they do in our community.
Tutoring Ahmed is a joy and a privilege. He has such a good sense of humor and a good heart. I appreciate SDRT so much for providing this opportunity!