While all refugees face serious challenges during resettlement, oftentimes African women are especially vulnerable and at risk. Many are single mothers with several children. They have lost husbands, sons and brothers to the ravages of war and now must assume the position of head of household.

Frequently African refugee women do not understand English and have few marketable skills, making it difficult for them to gain employment or help their children with school work.

Building Bridges is a special program funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement to help African refugee women and children overcome cultural and linguistic barriers that prevent them from participating in the mainstream community.

Building Bridges is assisting in the development of the African Women’s Coalition, which is helping African women find solutions to barriers faced by their
communities.

Building Bridges volunteers provide life skills mentoring and English language tutoring for women, supplementary academic support for school-aged youth and read to young children.

• In-home life skills and English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring for African refugee women
• In-home reading with African refugee Children, ages 4-10 years
• Supplementary homework support for school-aged African refugee youth
• Development of the African Women’s Coalition
• College preparation and financial aid seminars for African refugee high school youth

Additional Services

• Information and referrals to resources and services in the community
• Cultural sensitivity training for medical, social service and education professionals

Volunteer Opportunities

• One-on-one, in-home ESL/literacy tutoring for African refugee women
• Supplementary homework tutoring for African refugee youth
• In-home reading practice for African refugee children, 4-10 years of age

• 3-4 hours/week time commitment
• No tutoring experience necessary Recommended: A 6-hour ESL/literacy training and a 6-hour cultural sensitivity workshop, provided by Building Bridges
• Submission of monthly progress reports
• At least 18 years of age
• Criminal history check

Building Bridges is funded through a grant from the Office of Refugee Resettlement

For more information, please contact:

Deborah Fisher
Building Bridges Coordinator
(503) 731-9553

Faridah Haron
Volunteer Coordinator
(503) 231-7480, Ext. 675

Evelyne Ello-Hart
African Women’s Coalition Coordinator
(503) 231-7480, Ext. 638

African Women’s Coalition (AWC)
AWC is a community-based organization that acts as a voice for African women and their families in Oregon and SW Washington. Its membership is comprised of women from more than two dozen African countries. Affiliated with the Building Bridges program the Coalition’s objectives are:

• Strengthening African refugee and immigrant communities
• Improving the economic condition of refugee families and help them achieve social integration in the community at-large.

Program Coordinator: Evelyne Ello-Hart 503-231-7480