IFSI-USA provides after-school and summer enrichment programming to over 150 immigrant children with limited English skills and lack of financial resources. We educate these children and improve their English skills to give them a chance to succeed in school. Children and society benefit as young people continue their education and are better placed to enter the workforce.
With no English skills, & a lack of financial resources, immigrant families face large obstacles adjusting to their new communities and accessing the right services. In 2016, our afterschool & summer programs served 155 Haitian children suffering from trauma and stress. Given the recent catastrophic effects of Hurricane Matthew, we anticipate the need for services will increase as families support loved ones in Haiti by taking second jobs or supporting new family members arriving from Haiti.
IFSI-USA will serve at least 175 children & youth in 2017. 40 will join the after-school program five days per week & 115 in the 6 week summer program. 20 children will attend a Saturday Academy for test preparation. All children interact with mature adults & older youth who speak their language. Our programs provide daily tutoring & nutritious snacks, music education, choir, martial arts & games. We also guide & support parents with ongoing workshops and access to services.
Educating children yields enormous benefits for the children and society which benefits from a better educated workforce. When institutions like IFSI-USA step in to guide those families and support their children, we all benefit from the rich diversity immigrant families bring to our communities. We will improve English skills for our limited English proficiency population and at the same time, improve school success and stop "brain waste".
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
