Annick Palm: Finding Her Way via Open Door English

Annick Palm was born and grew up near the city of Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire, an African country bordered by Ghana, Mali, and Burkina Faso, where Annick’s parents were born. Her parents and grandparents lived at different times in both Burkina Faso and the Cote d’Ivoire, so Annick grew up familiar with both countries, only a long train ride apart.

When Annick was 13, she was selected to attend girls’ parochial school in Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso. Her parents knew this would be a great opportunity, but for Annick to attend school she had to pack up and leave her parents, siblings, and stay with her uncle, who lived near the school. In the new school classes were taught in French, and fortunately at home her family spoke both Bambara and French, and she learned quickly and succeeded in school.

Annick: “I was scared and sad to leave my family, but I studied hard at school for many years, until I graduated from the medical school at the university.”

When Annick was 26 years old she married Jean Baptiste, and they lived together in Ouagadougou, where their two beautiful sons were born. Jean left Burkina Faso in 2022 to accept a pre-doctoral scholarship at Northwestern University, a leading private research and teaching university in Evanston, Illinois.

Jean was next offered a scholarship to Cornell University to obtain his Ph.D. in Applied Economics. And now Annick and Karel, six years old, and Gabriel, two years old, are happily reunited with Jean since arriving in Ithaca in August 2024.

Coming to Ithaca to join Jean has been a big adventure for Annick and their sons. “I like the opportunity for us to discover another culture and learn a new language, and for us to be together.” But it has also been hard to be so far away from their families, their culture, while learning a new language and finding their way. Annick longingly describes the beautiful warm climate in Burkina Faso with the wide expanses of savannah and fields, in a developing country, sadly challenged recently by episodes of terrorism.

Each morning when Jean leaves for his studies at Cornell, Annick puts Karel on the school bus to elementary school, and Gabriel attends a marvelous multicultural day care program where young children from all over the world learn English and play together. And fortunately, both schools are near the majestic and generous Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, where Annick studies English at Open Door English.

Annick is making fine progress learning English, in addition to the French and African languages in which she is fluid. She raves about all that Open Door English offers to her. And as a special treat, one of her friends, Maria, is from Cape Verde, an island near where Annick grew up. Maria’s children are the same age as Annick’s sons, and the two young, determined mothers and their children shore each other up and support each other. Annick confides that she and Maria can talk about everything together, and the kids and their mothers have lots of fun.

Annick explains that she feels very fortunate to be in Ithaca, and be included in the lively and comfortable, environment of Open Door English, which enables her to find their way in a new land.

“Every day I am with very kind people. I love leaving my home to come to Open Doors despite the cold weather; there I find love and human warmth…First I progressed through Unit 1 with Sasha, my teacher, where I first began to learn English. Unit 2 with Juanita was not too difficult, but Unit 3 with Rachel is hard… I am learning to read simple books and stories in English now, and I read these new books to my sons in English.

To help Open Door English continue to provide this lifeline program to others seeking to learn English, consider these ways we can all assist.
Liz Susmann, ODE Co-director (esusmann.ode@gmail.com) : “Some of our students are too afraid to leave home right now, and we’re exploring creative solutions to maintain connection. We need help to extend our welcome in defiance of exclusion, cultivate joy to offset fear and depression, and embrace community in the face of isolation.

We are so thankful for each of you, our friends, and supporters, who remind us that we and our students are not alone. Your encouragement and generosity of spirit are everything to us.”

Ways to Help

Since last week, we’ve seen a huge outpouring of community support for immigrants in our community. On Sunday, hundreds showed up for an impromptu rally downtown, and in recent weeks, community members have been mobilizing in solidarity and compassion. Many have asked us, “What can I do? How can I help?” 

Help us keep these direct-service programs funded!

Giving $10-$50 per month makes a big difference! Here’s a list of some local organizations and agencies who directly support our immigrant and refugee neighbors:

Open Doors English: English language classes and case management/referral services.

Catholic Charities: Immigrant support services, immigration legal services, job development, case management/referrals.

Ithaca Welcomes Refugees: holistic support for refugees and their families as they build lives in Ithaca, Global Roots Play School (preschool for immigrant and refugee children).

Tomkins Learning Partners: individual or small-group tutoring, citizenship preparation.

Ithaca City of Asylum: welcoming at-risk writers and artists from around the world into the Ithaca community, advocating for human rights, etc.

No Mas Lagrimas: food distribution and other equity work.