PROVIDENCE – Citizens Bank has selected a collegiate youth refugee tutoring program as one of two grant winners in its Banking on Youth competition, according to a press release.
The Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education, or ARYSE, was selected to receive $1,000 from the bank. Modeled on the Big Brothers Big Sisters initiative, the organization helps coordinate tutoring and mentorship programs at various universities provide young refugees with material and emotional resources as they navigate the transition to a new country. ARYSE uses its national infrastructure to share ideas across campuses. The organization was started in February by former leaders of the programs at Brown University and Yale University.
“ARYSE’s innovative concept is a real asset to those who need assistance developing academic and social skills in a new and challenging environment,” said Ned Handy, president of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The Banking on Youth competition included 90-second videos showing the impact and significance of the entries.
The grant will allow ARYSE to develop programming materials for youth refugee work, as well as a program focused on access to higher education.
