In one of those rare win-win situations in life, Temple students are helping elderly immigrants seeking to become U.S. citizens prepare for the citizenship exam. The students work at community sites helping immigrants in the application process, and with the history, civics and English as needed for the citizenship exam.
Students can participate through the work-study program as part of a course or as volunteers.
Secondly, there is a great deal of personal growth for the students. The project is being coordinated by Temple's Center for Intergenerational Learning. Students learn what immigrants must do to become citizens, eligibility requirements, and the processes of filing, interviewing, testing and swearing in. To tutor others, the students also must learn the history and civics fundamental to U.S. citizenship. In particular, students learn about the separation of powers, equality, freedom of religion and speech, and representative democracy.