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Nathalie Uwera from Republic of Congo Shares her NYC Correction Explorers Success Story Written by Nathalie Uwera
My name is Nathalie Uwera and I am a native of Rwanda. I was born in Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo) and lived there for 6 years. I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. My mother came to America in 1991 with my 2 brothers and first sister to get settled do she can send for my sisters and I. A civil war broke out in Rwanda between the 2 native tribes. Surrounding countries didn't want to be part of it so my family had to leave Zaire.
We moved to Rwanda were people were killing each other because of tribal differences. When my mother heard of the bad news, she left New York City and came to Africa to get us. The American Embassy was closed because of the war. We went to Uganda were they couldn’t help us either. Finally after 9 hard and tearful months, we were able to get visas to America.
In September of 1995 and sisters and I arrived at JFK International Airport. My brothers were they’re waiting to see us for the first time in 5 years. My sister was away at Cornell University in school. In December of the same year my mother came back to New York and we were a big happy family again.
Because as a new person in America it is easy to get influenced to the wrong things, I’m glad I found a program like the Explorers before the streets found me. I’m 14 years old and a freshman at Cathedral High School. I’ve been part of the Explorers program since I was in the 6 grade.
I’m a Sergeant of post 2622 and proud to wear the Department of Correction Explorers uniform. The Department of Correction Explores is a program based on ERC (Education, Recreation, and Communication). For education, we participate in many classes held at the Correction Academy and in individual posts. Classes vary from gang intelligence to STD’s and abstinence.
Three to Four times a year we take trips to Rikers Island to visit the jails and take with the inmates. One of the times being when we had a tour of ARDC with the Police Department Explorers from Maryland. We have also visited Rose M. Singer Detention Center and other jails. Once a year we go to Albany and sit with the legislators and discuss laws that we fell should go under consideration. In January we attend the New York State Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial observance at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. We had a tour of West Point, a historical military University in WestPoint, New York. During our weekly meeting we discuss how we fell about the city’s current events such as the mayoral campaign, America striking back and any important issues making the head lines. We are teenagers and we like to have fun, that’s what we do for recreation. We go to Mets games, Yankees games, Cyclones games and the Nets games. We go to the Barnum and Bailey and the Ringling Bothers circus at Madison Square Garden.
We have a dinner dance, which is like the explorers prom. The ladies dress in gowns and the gentlemen dress in tuxedos, all explorers are invited. Scholarships are given to High School seniors at this event. Last years event took place in Terrance on the Park in Queens over looking the city’s beautiful skyline. We had an annual Halloween party and Summer Jam. Due to the tragic events of September 11th, explorers has cancelled it Halloween party in respect of the families of those who has lost a loved one, instead we are planning a Christmas party for our families, friends and fellow explorers.
This year was the first time explorers hosted a back to school barbeque for all children and adults who wished to attend. There were plenty of fun and food. It was held at St. Johns Recreation Center in Brooklyn. Our most anticipated field trip is All Night New York. In All Night New York we hang out from 5 pm until 5 am under the supervision of Law Enforcement Officers. We do everything from a pizza and soda party at Fun Time USA in Brooklyn, watching a movie, enjoying rock climbing, ice skating, laser tag and video game at New Rock City in New Rochelle to an explorers only party at Club Scandals in Staten Island (no alcoholic beverages) and cosmic bowling were breakfast is served. Through out the whole night all explorers are escorted in Law Enforcement vehicles.
In the summer time we march in the Caribbean Day, Puerto Rican Day, Columbus Day, and the African American Day parades. We also march in the Brownsville Old Timers Day parade in Brownsville, Brooklyn. For 3 weeks during the summer explorers 14 and attend an Explorers Academy at Fordham University in the Bronx.
The Explorers Academy consist of explores from U.S. Costumes, Department of Correction, Transit, NYPD, DEA and many more. For the first 2 weeks of the Academy, we have intense military drill training and classes are held at the Rose Hill Campus of Fordham University. Classes are on CPR Certification, Hostage Negotiation, Felony Traffic Stops, Domestic Dispute Intervention, the Secret Service, Postal Police, Department of Correction, U.S. Costumes, NYPD, CIA, FBI, IRS, DEA, and other Law Enforcement agencies. The third week, we go camping at the Ten Mile River reservation in Narrowsburg, New York. While camping participate in archery, a shooting range, canoeing, mounting biking, swimming in a lake, repelling and COPE (a high adventure obstacle course).
We have a big party and a movie night. We also compete on what we learned the first 2 weeks. We compete in Drills, Hostage Negotiation and Domestic Dispute Intervention. On the last night of camping, medals are given to the winners. We also graduate and receive certificates at 1 Police Plaza in Manhattan. Chiefs and the head of the agencies also attend this ceremony.
For communication, we do a lot of community services. During the month of November we visit The Harlem Veteran Residence, bring the fruits and they share their experience of war and their lives with us. We do this because we want them to know that we care about them and what they did of our country. We go to the Allen ME Church in Queens to help pack food for the feeding of the 5,000. In December we visit and give clothing and toys to shelters. Last year we went to Kings County Hospital Pediatric ICU were each explorer gave a toy to an ailing child, which put a smile on his or her sad faces. We have visited the Ronald McDonald House were we gave them games, teddy bears and took pictures with them. We went to Westchester to help paint graffiti walls in their community. We also go to stair fairs and expose the youth to a positive productive program.
Because the explorer program is a Para-military program, we train in military drills, discipline and chain of command. We learn basic facing movement, marching drills and trick drills. Drills are conducted during weekly meeting or at the Correction Academy. In the spring and in the summer, our drilling skills are tested as we compete in Drill Competition. We’ve won second and fifth place.
The Department of Correction Explorers started with 1 post but now consist of 4 and we are still expanding. The first post is 2037 that meets at the Correction Academy in Middle Village, Queens. In 1998 post 2622 was opened at the Brownsville Recreation Center in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Last year we opened 6023, our third post at the St. Johns Recreation Center, which is also in Brooklyn. Just a short while ago, 8969 was opened at the Gloria Weiss Boys and Girls Club in Coop City in the Bronx.
The Program Director is Daphne Glover and her Assistant Officer Alan Russell work extra hard to keep this wonderful program up and running and assessable to the youth
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