New refugee students in NYC get ready for school in the US, from academics to fire drills

New refugee students in NY get ready for US school

NEW YORK — A New York City summer program aimed at refugee children who’ve recently arrived in the United States is teaching more than reading and writing.

The Refugee Summer Youth Academy tries to help its students learn how to go to school along with what they learn in school. The 6-week program mimics what students will experience at school.

Some of the students have had limited formal education. They come from a range of the world’s hot spots, combat zones and conflict areas like Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Burma.