Sisters of the Circle - A Program of Jefferson Center

“The ability to speak to other people makes me feel like an equal person,” said Fahamo Mberwa, a 17-year-old student at Roanoke’s Patrick Henry High School and second-year member of Sisters of the Circle. That after-school program at Jefferson Center (CVC #3561) uses the universal languages of music and dance to teach teenage daughters of refugee and immigrant families to be fluent in English. And with the ability to participate fully in school, they develop confidence and self-esteem to succeed in the community and careers.

Fahamo’s family, which includes six children, came to Roanoke in 2005 from the Republic of Kenya. While her parents still have limited English-language skills and the family speaks Kiswahili at home, Fahamo and her younger siblings realized they would have limited futures without the ability to communicate in English.

“At first, we had a friend from Somalia to help us translate everything. You cannot speak your own language because not everyone would understand you. So you have to speak English to make people understand what you want to tell them,” she said.

With language skills, “I have a lot of new friends who I can understand what they say and I can speak back.”

Jefferson Center depends on grants and donations to provide Sisters of the Circle. Because about 80 percent of the participants come from households below the poverty line, no fees are charged to 30 girls who participate each semester.

When she finishes high school, Fahamo intends to attend college, get married and have a child and develop her interest in dance and music. With those life achievements, “I will go back to Kenya for a visit and show my family that I am a success,” she said.

To help make a difference in the programs at Jefferson Center, designate to CVC #3561.

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