New country’s easier
with aid of New World

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

Alexander Shraybman calls the volunteers who started the New World Association of Emigrants from Eastern Europe "a group of enthusiasts."
The current president of the organization said it began humbly, with a few emigrants from the former Soviet Union learning English in a one-room rented space at 2214 Glendale Ave. in the early 1980s.
Through its early ardor, New World became one of the first immigrant service agencies in the state and the primary adult literacy program for the Northeast. In the last 25 years, it has helped about 20,000 clients with everything from language skills to citizenship preparation to ensure that their new world is at least a navigable one.
"Thousands of newcomers got support from our staff and became self-sufficient," Shraybman said.
The group celebrated its 25th anniversary on May 30 with a lively celebration at the Jewish Community Centers Klein Branch in Somerton. Hundreds of current and former students packed the auditorium to hear speeches and enjoy music and dance performances.
Principal sponsors and supporters of New World include the state education and public welfare departments, the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
When New World started, large numbers of Eastern European natives had begun flocking to neighborhoods like Oxford Circle, Rhawnhurst and Bustleton.
Shraybman estimates that about 60,0000 to 70,000 Slavic-speaking people now live in the Greater Philadelphia area. Each year, between 650 and 700 of them seek services at New World’s Glendale Avenue office and the group’s new building at 9857 Bustleton Ave., which opened in 2005.
Current English as a Second Language student Nadezhda Perov came to Philadelphia from Kishenev, Moldolva, four years ago "at an age when learning another language is not easy."
"But I wanted to speak the language of the country," she explained. "I was able to start communicating in English. (The) New World organization helps me in preparation to become an American citizen."
Former student Elena Shchirova, who emigrated from Moscow in 1992, credits her New World teachers for giving her language skills and support.
"I have become a successful person," she said.
One of her favorite teachers was ESL coordinator Irina Sapiro, who began teaching at New World in 1993.
"I see so many students that I’ve taught," Sapiro said. "Thank you for your support. I love you."
New World operates with a 19-member staff and seven volunteers. Its services are free, but the group does ask for an annual donation of $25 from clients. The association receives grant money from state agencies and private partnerships.
In addition to ESL tutoring, the organization offers job placement and referral services, refugee orientation counseling, field trips and interpreter services to its clients. About 90 percent of its citizenship-instruction students have gone on to become United States citizens, Shraybman said.
The association also participates in the MoveUp program, an intensive six-hour ESL and Adult Basic Education class for needy people with children. The program aims to help clients get jobs and obtain a GED or other training. In addition, New World provides vocational education in such areas as computers and nursing assistant certification.
While still retaining a base of mostly Russian emigrants, New Word has begun opening its doors to individuals from Asia, Africa and Latin America as well.
In looking to the next 25 years of service, Ukraine native Marina Lipkovskaya, New World’s executive director, hopes to get programming for younger emigrants and support services related to substance abuse and domestic violence.
"There are so many problems we don’t know about (in the community)," she said.
But the challenges don’t matter to Shraybman, since he believes that New World can address them by working together.
"We became one big family," he said. "We share our joy and our sorrow sometimes." ••
For more information on New World, call 215-856-7316 or e-mail russworld@aol.com