- From “Home,” by Baty Abdilfatah

 

Joy and gratitude shine through Baty Abdilfatah’s original song, “Home,” which traces her journey from Kuwait to a Kansas winter. Baty, the March YES Student of the Month, captures in “Home” the experience of many YES students who overcome initial doubts and homesickness to find that they truly feel at home in their new surroundings.

 

Baty indeed got a warm welcome from her host family, the Porters, and her host community of Little River, Kansas, where she quickly became well-known and well-liked.  She participates in family activities and has discussed Muslim perspectives on various subjects at her host family’s church. Baty's favorite community service activities involve working with children. She is currently coaching a little league soccer team for kindergarteners and first graders. She has also given presentations on Kuwait at elementary schools, incorporating her musical skills by singing songs from her country. She has accumulated many hours volunteering at the organization, Head Start.

 

At Little River High School, Baty played volleyball, was a member of the dance team, and now plays softball. She is a straight-A student and shares her knowledge by volunteering to tutor other high school students. An exceptionally talented musician, Baty has also joined in musical activities at school; among other opportunities, she was invited to sing the National Anthem at one of her school’s basketball games.

 

Below is Baty’s beautiful and touching song “Home” and the accompanying video: 

 

 

 

Baty discusses the new song and provides the full lyrics in an interview with her placement organization here.

 

Congratulations, Baty, and happy spring to you and all the YES students!

 

Honorable Mention goes to Aleyna Bakirli from Turkey, who has been an outstanding YES ambassador since she arrived in Marshalltown, Iowa in August 2013. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Aleyna also participates in the forensics club, yearbook, Key Club, 4H club, and the National Honor Society and volunteered as basketball manager at Marshalltown High School. Aleyna has been eager to learn about Iowa culture and to share her Turkish culture with her community through country presentations and daily interactions.

 

The World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa, conducts a Global Youth Institute that invites students from around the country to share their research on improving food security. Aleyna was chosen to attend the three-day event in October because of her outstanding paper on climate change and its impacts in Turkey. Aleyna was also selected to participate in the Civic Education Workshop in Washington, D.C. She worked as a social media specialist during the workshop and shared her experiences on her blog.