VERMONT

State grants create summer programs for Afghans, training for teachers serving newcomers

Lilly St. Angelo
Burlington Free Press

The Vermont Agency of Education is making grants to refugee organizations and schools this summer to support newly arrived Afghan refugees.

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Vermont in the Burlington area and the Ethiopian Community Development Council in Brattleboro will each receive $100,000 to provide programming this summer to help Afghan youth and families learn English, gain skills, be matched with mentors, find community and receive mental and emotional support.

The Agency of Education will also provide $200,000 for educators around the state to be trained in how to better serve multilingual students.

Afghan refugees arrive at Burlington International Airport in November. The Vermont Agency of Education is giving refugee organizations money to provide summer programming to support and empower Afghans.

Afghans began arriving in Vermont late last year. Since then, refugee organizations have been Afghans' main lines of support. The money for the summer programming is from federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds.

More:Afghan refugees are arriving in the Green Mountain State. Here's how Vermonters can help.

The Ethiopian Community Development Council is using the money to hire a summer coordinator and volunteer coordinator to work at the Multicultural Community Center in downtown Brattleboro. The center will provide computer, keyboarding and internet classes, cooking and sewing classes, pot luck meals, tutoring, excursions to Vermont destinations to learn about the state, integration discussions and case management office hours to Afghan refugees this summer.

Afghan refugees read during an A1 intermediate reading class at the Mid-Valley Literacy Center in Salem, Ore. on Monday, March 7, 2022.

In Burlington, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Vermont will use its grant to expand its one-on-one mentoring program for youth aged 13-20 that offers academic, personal life and career-exploration support as well as offer more classes and activities focused on empowering women and children. Refugees can attend specialized English language instruction, opportunities for job searching and networking, digital and financial literacy classes, support groups, driving instruction and recreational activities including swimming lessons.