By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

John Stark Regional High School students Becca Atamian and Amber Marquis interview Alex Gbaley and son Kumunle to learn about their lives in Liberia. Dinner and an African drumming demonstration were also part of the evening on Wednesday, Feb. 16, which was planned by John Stark teachers as a way to help students learn about African cultures. (Nathan Duke Photos)

Having already spent a semester in an exciting new place called high school, two classes of John Stark Regional High School freshmen are partnering with local African refugees to learn about their culture and experiences in a new country.

This past November, English/Geo Studies teacher Deidra Welch and co-teacher Zach Medlock, along with English teacher Michele Kirschbaum, kicked off a program in cooperation with the African Information Center in Manchester, in which students and refugees could meet and learn about each other’s cultures.

One of last fall's projects was a schoolwide competition to see how much money could be raised to buy winter coats for the center.

On Wednesday Feb. 16, Welch and Medlock's classes met at the high school with a small group of mostly women and children from the center for a dinner and a chance for students to create an identity shield for their African partner, which describes their personalities, hobbies and families.

The students will remain in contact with their partners to write their biographies.

"This is a good project to care about – to reach out to new members of our community," said Medlock. "The enduring nature of this will endure past this year into future years."

Shelley Lathrop, volunteer/ donations coordinator and community outreach developer for Lutheran Social Services of New England, said that the event is a good opportunity for high school students to learn first hand about a culture different from their own.

"You can hear about something in a book or a class, but it is so much more moving when you hear from that person in person," she said. "It gives you more contacts for greater learning."

The guests also praised the project and said that it is a good chance for them to learn more about American culture.

"This is a chance to let us know more about life in the U.S. and it lets us make a connection with another culture," said Nagat Elmahdi, who has lived in Manchester for two years.

A brief introduction of the students to the refugees was followed by a casual dinner of submarine sandwiches, chips and cookies. The students then met with their biography partners and created an identity shield, a chart that asks questions about their partners' families, interests and goals.

"This is a project to get us to know how big of a change it is for you to come (to America)" said Amber Marquis to her Liberian partner, Alex Gbaley. "I'm so glad to be here and be a free citizen," said Gbaley. "Everybody here is friendly."

Following their identity shield interviews, the students introduced their partners to the rest of their class. The evening culminated with an African drumming presentation by former John Stark teacher Julie Corey, who owns The Village Drum in Hooksett.

"Fanga alafia," said Julie Corey to the crowd of about 50 people, which means "welcome, everyone."

They responded with "ashe ashe," which means "it is blessed." Students, teachers and guests from the center played drums and danced for 10 to 15 minutes before bidding each other farewell.

The freshmen had positive things to say about the project. Mike Essman said that he enjoyed meeting people from a different culture and country. Becca Atamian said that the project is a unique experience among her daily school activities. Before meeting her biography partner, Alex Gbaley, she said that she was anxious about their conversation.

"I'm excited because I've never really done something like this before," she said. "I don't really get nervous about talking to people, but I also don't want to say the wrong thing and my partner taking it the wrong way."

The students will meet again soon with their partners to undertake the biography-writing aspect of the project.

Mariatou Scott, the director of the African Information Center, started the office from her home two years ago before moving into the Manchester office space where the center is currently located. Scott, who moved to the United States from Mali in 1986, said that she intends to collaborate with John Stark High School in upcoming years with the project. "We hope to continue doing this every year," she said. "We want to keep the school involved in the African community."