ISC’s Representatives:

Event Date: 05/19/2025

Event Location: Cumberland Valley High School

On May 19, 2025, the Spring Family Gathering & Community Fair took place at Cumberland Valley High School. This community-centered event, organized by the Cumberland Valley School District’s English Language Development (ELD) program, brought together local families, children, and a variety of service providers to promote resources, wellness, and education.

Representing the International Service Center (ISC) were Hadia Azizi, Jamaludin Ahmadzai, Azizullah Aziz, Olena Ivashchuk, Kateryna Baraban, and Victoria Rudenko. Our team engaged attendees by sharing information about immigration services, language assistance, and refugee support programs available for Afghan, Cuban, Haitian, Ukrainian, and other refugee groups in the region. Our presence reflected the diversity of the populations we assist and our ongoing commitment to welcoming all newcomers with dignity and support.

One of the highlights of our booth was an interactive activity designed for children to learn and write simple words, such as “Mother,” “Father,” “Peace,” “Welcome,” and their names—in Creole, Dari, Spanish, and Ukrainian. Children showed great enthusiasm for practicing new languages and were excited to share the words they had learned with family members.

The event featured booths from several community organizations, including Aetna Better Health Kids of PA, Catholic Charities, HACC (Harrisburg Area Community College), Latino Connection, PA Health Access Network, Sadler Health Center, and YMCA West Shore. In addition to sharing information, our team took the opportunity to collaborate and build connections with these partners to explore how their services could benefit our refugee clients. Whether through referrals for healthcare, English language programs, or job readiness resources, these partnerships will help expand the network of support available through our office. The event also included games for children, a shared meal, and multilingual “Meet & Greet” sessions, fostering a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all.

Events like this are essential in helping refugee families feel welcomed, informed, and supported. Through our participation, our team strengthened connections with local families and helped raise awareness about the resources available to them.