For immigrant refugee students, succeeding in American schools can be especially difficult.
Political unrest in Southeast Asia has driven more than 1000 refugees to Wisconsin. They come to the U.S. to escape the militaristic governments of Burma and Malaysia, which deny basic civil liberties and due process to ethnic minorities.
But, for young refugees, arriving safely in the U.S. is just the beginning of their journey.
Next, they have to learn English in American schools, following the same curriculum as native speakers.
That's where the Burmese Immersion Projec t comes in. The non-profit has been helping immigrant students of all ages from Southeast Asia since 2011, supplementing their public education with informal tutoring sessions. They meet twice a week for homework help, language lessons, and social interaction with other refugee students.
Right now, the project is completely powered by volunteers. Besides looking for additional tutors, the non-profit is also looking for about $900 to purchase much needed English As A Second Language (ESL) educational materials.
To learn more about the project, or to donate to its mission, click here.