Over 13% of the population in rural Barron, Wisconsin are Somalian immigrants. This project provides immigrant teens an enhanced opportunity to improve their literacy skills. Literacy is influenced by culture, identity, gender, race, and religion. By training staff in cultural diversity, and providing them with technological teaching tools that can be used to specifically build literacy skills, staff can better assist Somalian youth members to achieve higher levels academically and socially.
The Riverview Center of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Barron County has a high percentage of Somali members as a result of immigration of their families over the past decade to escape the civil war and refugee camps of Somalia. Somali families have settled in the area predominantly for employment in the meat packing industry of Jennie-O located in Barron, Wisconsin. As a result, our Somali youth members need additional assistance with cultural obstacles they face being in a small Midwest town.
Literacy is influenced by culture, identity, gender, race, and religion. By training staff in cultural diversity, and providing them with technological teaching tools that can be used to specifically build literacy skills, staff can better assist Somali youth members to achieve higher levels academically and socially.
Somali students in the Barron Area School District often face additional challenges to overcome language and literacy barriers. Somalian families have been drawn to Wisconsin because of high school graduation standards that do not require students to pass an English essay exam. To better assist the Somalis in becoming a permanent fixture in the community, the Boys & Girls Clubs feel they can enhance language and literacy skills to the Somali members at a younger age.
