Bridging the Gap: Sil Ganzó and ourBRIDGE for KIDS (Part 1)

In 2003, Sil Ganzó arrived in the United States from Argentina when an opportunity for work presented itself. Seven years later, having recognized the lack of educational, social and emotional support for newly arrived children, Sil began working with refugee and immigrant families through an afterschool program called The Bridge. She eventually became its program director. In 2014, The Bridge was set to close down. Because of her close relationships with families, schoolteachers and community partners, Sil decided she could not allow the program to simply end and walk away. So, Sil created ourBridge for KIDS, a nonprofit that provides a safe, nurturing and respectful environment for refugee and immigrant children and their families. It supports the children as they learn English and encourages academic excellence and cultural pride. At ourBridge for KIDS, families feel welcomed and embraced as they strive to start their lives anew in the United States.

 

In part one of this two-part episode, Sil details her experiences within the refugee and immigrant communities, the formation of ourBRIDGE for KIDS and its partnership with Aldersgate. She shares how ourBRIDGE has evolved into a multifaceted organization that feeds thousands of people a week, provides free transportation to schools and helps close the communication gap between schools, teachers and families. We also talk to a very special group of kids who share their experiences of growing up in the program and what it has meant to them.

ourBRIDGE for KIDS links:

www.joinourbridge.org

www.facebook.com/ourBRIDGEkids/

www.instagram.com/ourbridgeforkids

www.twitter.com/ourBRIDGEkids