Over the course of this last semester, mandatory social distancing and lockdown left me searching for ways I could safely occupy my time. That is how I found IHELP – the Immigrant Home English Learning Program.
IHELP, formerly known as the Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Program, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing English lessons and developing life skills for the immigrant and refugee population of St. Louis. I spoke with Christina Rumbold, a Program Coordinator since 2018 and the current Interim Program Manager of IHELP, about the organization and the niche it fills in the community.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable groups in the US. Organizations like IHELP play a role in providing resources to the immigrant and refugee communities during a potentially difficult time.
What is IHELP?
The Immigrant Home English Learning Program works by matching a student with a volunteer teacher. They work together for two hours each week, using a curriculum and supplies such as workbooks provided by IHELP. Since a curriculum is provided, no prior teaching experience is needed for volunteers – just a willingness to learn and time set aside to attend the orientation.
Prior to COVID-19, teachers would travel to their student’s home for lessons. This is an important part of IHELP’s process, as it removes the barrier many experience in their journey to learn English.
“A big reason we exist is because there are so many people, especially women, who want to take English classes but don’t have transportation, childcare, etc., so this meets them where they are at and brings a teacher to their home.”
“A big reason we exist is because there are so many people, especially women, who want to take English classes but don’t have transportation, childcare, etc., so this meets them where they are at and brings a teacher to their home,” Rumbold said.
IHELP’s policy is that learning English should never be mandatory or treated as a replacement for a person’s first language, but rather a tool they can use to help them adjust to life in St. Louis. Teachers and students are encouraged to share their cultures with one another and use real life learning techniques such as “field trips” to the grocery store or the bank to practice their skills.
IHELP functions by helping to remove at least one barrier from those who are seeking to learn English, making it as easy as possible for them to achieve their goals.
A Growing Need That Must be Met
While it does not have as high of a population percentage of foreign-born citizens as other large cities, the foreign-born population of St. Louis steadily grows year by year. Resources were needed to help this growing population, and IHELP is one such resource.
When it was initially founded in 1995, IHELP, or as it was known at the time, the Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Program, began as a ministry run by the School Sisters of Notre Dame that helped eight Vietnamese women with English and life skills. IHELP officially became a non-profit organization ten years later. As of 2019, they are helping over 350 people adapt to life in St. Louis.
“We have a waiting list of over 180 people who are waiting to be matched with a teacher, and that’s even after the hundreds of people who take classes outside of our program by traveling to classes (before COVID) or taking other classes online. There are still so many people in the program already and almost 200 people waiting to be in the program. That in itself demonstrates a need,” Rumbold said.
I have been volunteering with IHELP for the past five months, so the organization has been virtual for the duration of my time. Twice a week, I look at the curriculum and workbooks provided by IHELP and decide what lessons and activities will be most useful. My student and I meet over Facebook Messenger. Together, we work through the activities and make sure she understands any new vocabulary or grammar. Despite the distance, my student and I maintain a close relationship.
Since COVID-19, the organization has mostly switched over to virtual learning to ensure participant’s safety. Teachers and students are still able to meet twice a week using various online tools such as Skype, Zoom, or Facebook Messenger. Crucially, the curriculum that IHELP provides has several online versions, allowing teachers to continue using workbooks and suggested lesson plans.
Unfortunately, virtual learning does present unique challenges. Issues with technology or a lack of Internet access can prevent some from participating. Currently, IHELP is accepting donations of used laptops or tablets and fundraising to purchase tablets for students in order to combat this problem.
How Can You Get Involved?
Since IHELP matches individual teachers and students, volunteers who would like to teach are encouraged to apply! As previously stated, no prior teaching experience is necessary because a curriculum is provided for teachers. Orientations and the resources of IHELP are always available if volunteers have questions and concerns.
To volunteer with IHELP, you need to be at least 18 years old. A volunteer application is available on IHELP’s website, and after applying there will be a brief phone call before you are signed up for the teaching orientation.
There are also other ways to get involved. To become a donor, you can go to IHELP’s website. You can give a one-time donation, or even sign up to be a monthly funder and donate a pre-determined amount each month in order help fund IHELP’s goals. If you’re interested in becoming a Board Member, you can contact Julie Fox, the Executive Director of IHELP, about your interest and with any questions about the process.
“That’s the premise of why we exist, to give tools to immigrants and refugees who want to learn English but can’t go out to regular classes.”
“That’s the premise of why we exist,” said Rumbold, “to give tools to immigrants and refugees who want to learn English but can’t go out to regular classes.”
You can support IHELP in this endeavor through volunteering and donations, but also by spreading the word about this non-profit and the good they do for the immigrant and refugee community of St. Louis.
The author volunteers as a teacher for IHELP.
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