A Summer Haven, French Farm Hosts Refugee Children

For two weeks in August, French Farm was a playground for children from around the world.

Working in partnership with Jewish Family Services, the Center for Public Good (CPG) organized a summer program for 35 refugee children from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, and Venezuela. The children, ranging in age from 3–15, spent the mornings exploring all the corners of the farm and doing arts and craft projects, playing games, cooking, feeding chickens, and reading and learning English words and phrases. A group of GCDS alumni, teachers, students, family members, and staff planned a variety of fun and educational activities to make the weeks memorable for the kids.

“We had a magical two weeks together. I loved having the opportunity to spend time learning from and laughing with these kids who are brave, and resilient,” said Jen Donnalley, Director of Center for Public Good. They reminded us every day that human connections have no language barrier.”

“It’s hard to come to another country,” said Marta Zholnerchyk, a group leader and recent GCDS graduate who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Ukraine herself. ”But the best thing is to just jump in and young people, especially, figure out how to adjust. The kids are so happy here, they all found friends.”