Refugees with low literacy in their native languages face unique challenges when they try to establish households and livelihoods in their new country. Our building capacity initiative expands programming in English language instruction to include classes in citizenship preparation, financial literacy, pre-GED preparation, and urban agriculture in order to link language learning with practical skill-building that promotes educational and economic advancement.
Approximately 200 refugees resettle in the Roanoke area every year. A significant percentage include people from rural areas, with limited education, job skills, and English language proficiency. Frequently, these people require intensive support beyond the resources allocated by the U.S. Department of State. Work-life demands present additional challenges adults who want to earn a GED or college degree, but lack the language skills to complete the work.
We will provide adult ESL and capacity building programs that simultaneously increase language proficiency and convey practical skills in the areas of citizenship, financial literacy, pre-GED preparation, and urban agriculture.
We will engage 80 men and women in capacity building programs that support their specific goals for acquiring further education and work credentials.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
