Community service is essential for clubs on campus to connect with the city of Turlock. The Sociology Club at California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State), has been an active participant in community service since its inception in 2008.
Recently, they were approached by Stan State student Majed Almutairi (senior, Marketing). He asked the Sociology club for their help tutoring Syrian refugee children by helping them with their homework after school, as well as teaching them how to speak and write in English.
According to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) “Refugees may be placed in a city where they have relatives or friends, or where there’s an established community that shares their language or culture.”
Furthermore, the Turlock Journal reports that Since Oct. 1, 2011, over 1,800 refugees have resettled in Turlock because of the city’s affordability and welcoming atmosphere to refugees.
Sociology Club President, Lexi Lucero (senior, Sociology), explains that the Syrian children have lived in Turlock for about six months without any prior understanding of the English language.
Lucero gives thanks to one of the club members whose parent is a teacher. The member is able to help provide the lesson plans that have been helpful in teaching these children basic language skills.
“We come up with lesson plans before we go into it,”said Lucero, “the point is for them to learn English so they can do better in school.”
In order to effectively communicate with the children, they have volunteers from the Saudi Club help translate certain words and phrases the children have not yet learned.
Lucero mentioned  that Sociology Club meets with the children once a week,   She emphasized the clubs goal by saying, “The importance of this tutoring group is the point of our club, [which] is to reach out to the community.”
Furthermore she spoke about what it means to her personally to be able to help these children out, “..It’s rewarding. The kids get so excited… They have already had such a difficult start, so it’s helpful for their integration assimilation into U.S. society.”
According to Lucero, the children range from 7 years old to 15 years old. She says that this effort is organized through Almutairi and his relationships with these families. He provides the children transportation to Stan State every week. He leaves the children with Sociology Club while he attends class.
Nathan Romo (senior, Sociology), the Vice President of Sociology Club, says that the club tutors every week. Romo said that when speaking to Almutairi one day he had mentioned the need for tutors.
“I enjoy seeing that they want to learn. These kids are from a war-torn country, they have lost everything and come here for refuge,” said Romo. “As Americans, it’s our duty to help these children receives an education.”
Romo says that the children see them as educators, that every week they come eager to learn and play with their peers. He also says that his favorite part is being able to provide rewards for the children whenever they successfully finish their homework or win at a game they played that week.
Catlin Turner (junior, Sociology), member of Sociology Club, says that the club is there to help because the members want to help.  
“These kids want to learn, they want to be there. It motivates us because we see that they grasp everything we teach them. We ask them what they want to be when they grow up and they say doctors and lawyers,” Turner said. “I think having them here every week will have a positive effect on their education. “
Turner says the kids benefit from this group being hosted on a college campus because it will inspire them to pursue their future educational endeavors. She said that It shows them that education is important, and there are people out there that care about their education.
Lucero, Romo and Turner expressed that in time the club may need more volunteers as the need grows. They all expressed that having a small group of people who care is better than having a bigger group with people who don’t care.
Sociology Club Advisor Dr. Jennifer (Jey) Strangfeld expressed how proud she is to be the advisor for a club who has continually proved their dedication to the betterment of their community.
“I think it really speaks to the commitment that these students have to social justice,” Dr. Strangfeld expressed. “it also speaks to their commitment to enhancing and celebrating diversity.
Dr. Strangfeld believes that the Sociology Club is a representation of what students at this university are about. She expressed that students at this university care about reaching to their community by learning from diverse groups of people.
To find out more information about Sociology Club and what they are doing in the community you can attend their weekly meetings every Wednesday in the Lakeside Conference room from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.