Welcoming Families From Around the World

 Scenario:

You are working in an early childhood setting of your choice—a hospital, a child care center, a social service agency. You receive word that the child of a family who has recently emigrated from a country you know nothing about will join your group soon. Naturally, you want to prepare yourself to welcome the child and her family. Luckily, you are enrolled in a course about diversity and have learned that to support families who have immigrated, you need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin.

An Overview of Andorra

I am currently working in a child care center, where I am expecting a child and her family from Andorra. The country of Andorra is located on the continent of Europe. Andorra is officially known by two other titles -- the Principality of Andorra and the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra. However, the two longer names for this European country do not roll off the tongue with as much ease, so the nation is simply called Andorra in casual conversation. As the sixth smallest place on the European continent, Andorra is only one hundred eighty-one square miles in total area. The country's capital is a city called Andorra la Vella.

Most people in Andorra speak the country's official language of Catalan, but other languages you would hear around the country are French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Andorra is one of many countries. Actually, that does not have English listed as one of its most recognized languages.

Andorra is the 16th smallest country in the world by land, and the 11th smallest by population. It is only about a 40km drive from one side of the country to the other. The total population of Andorra is about 85,000, which includes citizens and residents. What’s even more shocking is that despite its small size, the vast majority of the buildings are located at the bottom of the valleys because so much of the land is mountainous.

How I Can Support My Immigrant Family

Preschools, early childhood centers, and other child care settings can play a critical role in supporting the children in immigrant families. I will begin by letting the child and her family know that they are welcome. The best way to let families know that they are welcome is to tell them. It is even more critical for immigrant families who may:

• feel unwelcome in the school, early childhood program, or community
• not know if immigration status impacts the right to attend school or early childhood program, or even enter the building
• be more likely to keep their children home and avoid educational settings themselves
• keep their children home due to local immigration enforcement activity
• come from countries where school records are available to all government agencies.

Removing Barriers to Engagement

I will:

• ensure that families are greeted warmly at the front office in their language
• introduce them to parent liaisons, Family Resource Centers, or other resources
• help families understand the U.S. school system
• provide transportation, meals, and child care for family events
• identify specific stressors, such as stimuli that trigger post-traumatic stress

Communicating in Families' Languages

I will:

• have access to someone who speaks their language
• make information available in their language and format they prefer
• teach staff how to use a language phone line or other services with an interpreter
• learn how to pronounce student and family names correctly
• learn a few phrases in families' languages
• welcome and use students' home languages in the classroom
• connect students with peers, staff, or volunteers who speak their language

Celebrate Students' Country and Culture

            

 Map of Andorra                                  Flag of Andorra

        

 People of Andorra                               Art of Andorra

               

Coat of Arm of Andorra                             Andorran Dish

I will:

• hang the flag and other emblems of students' home country Andorra
• display artwork, photos, and mementos from students' country
• include culturally responsive books in families' home languages in the library and in classrooms (including books by diverse authors who share students' heritage)
• provide opportunities for students and/or family to share songs and stories from their country or culture if they feel comfortable doing so
• be mindful that some students may not wish to share information about their home country, immigration story, or place of birth and others may not remember or know much about it (see more on this topic in our related section on immigrant students' silence)
• engage the school-wide/district-wide community
• encourage students to brainstorm ideas on how to make peers feel welcome
• encourage activities that foster students' empathy
• remind the community, including all students and adults in the building, of existing policies on bullying, bias, and discrimination
• take steps to prevent bullying and addressing bullying incidents when they occur
• share these strategies and ideas with colleagues.

Reference

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/foreign-countries

https://everything-everywhere.com/8-facts-about-andorra/

https://www.colorincolorado.org/immigration/guide/welcome#h-let-all-families-know-that-they-are-welcome