Mar 03 / Student Spotlight

Nafiesa Imlani, Philippines 07-08

Nafiesa is from Parang, Philippines. Her AFS program in Los Angeles began in August 2007 and will continue through June 2008. She is adjusting well to her cultural transition into America, is an active member of her school’s Asian Club and continues to put effort into building her friendship circle. As part of the YES “Cultural Enrichment Program,” Nafiesa has participated in a number of volunteer roles and extracurricular educational activities where she is learning ways to develop skills in leadership, language, and goal-setting for the future.

Nafiesa shared the following update:
In January with YES we volunteered in the MLK Parade and learned about the great civil rights leader Martin Luther King and his effect on this nation and civil rights legislation. We gave out handouts with excerpts from his “I Have A Dream” speech. The parade included everyone from L.A. Mayor Villiargosa to local high school marching bands, unions, radio stations and a rodeo troupe. We volunteered at the event along with several Peace Corps and AFS alumni. Afterwards we went to lunch at a famous local restaurant specializing in Creole food and the kids had a sampling Jambalaya and Gumbo. Over lunch we discussed each of their countries history of enslavement or forms of indentured servitude and learned a lot about the role of the city officials we had seen in the parade, the civil rights movement, and the pursuit of peace.

While on program, Nafiesa has undertaken an effort to creating a video documentary about her year abroad using YouTube. Check out Nafiesa’s video blog.