It was trip they will not soon forget. For 40 students participating in our Refugee Students After School Program, a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood was an eye opening and adventurous experience they will talk to their family and friends about all summer long.

These young adults, all work-age students, are part of our Agency’s Refugee Students After School Program – a program that assists recently arrived refugees from Thailand’s Wat Tham Krabok Refugee Camp in literacy courses, homework assistance, work study, and integration into American society. The program currently assists students enrolled at Roosevelt and Clovis East high schools, Reyburn Middle School, and Dry Creek Elementary.

Employment and Training’s Patrick Turner, one of chaperones, says, “Our visit to Universal Studios was two-fold. The primary purpose of this trip was to expose these young adults to the multitude of occupations in the entertainment industry. The secondary purpose: to give these youth the opportunity to get out of Fresno and have a little fun!”

Prior to their arrival, the students received a seminar – on the bus – about the occupations in demand on a film lot including working on set as an electrician, actor, caterer, set designer, and cinematographer. Once the arrived, the students took a lot tour where they saw what they learned earlier that day come to life.

After the tour, the students were assigned to their chaperones and spent the remainder of the day just being kids and enjoying the rides and shows at the theme park. At the end of the day, the group headed to the Hard Rock Café for an all American meal where they had the opportunity to meet Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom. The 28-year-old basketball star was watching the filming of BET’s (Black Entertainment Television, a cable network) 106 and Park Show.

Refugee Students After School Program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement.