Some of the activities carried out per category of theme during the year 2002
- Details
- Category: Narrative and Financial Report 2007
1. GENERAL SUPPORT/REFUGEE INTEGRATION
Refugee education and awareness was in 2006, the most effective way of promoting refugee integration and eliminate isolation. The education programme sought to raise awareness in West Midlands about the status of refugees with the aim of increasing the flow of information between refugee's groups and relevant authorities, religious leaders, and other relevant representatives.
During this period under review, one big event related to refugee integration was held in Smethwick, Sandwell.
On 25th November 2006 Care Link has networked with other local refugee organisations to celebrate refugee integration. The network held a series of successful workshops covering many important issues: gender equality, education, AIDS awareness to name few. This event was the first of its kind for the refugees from Central Africa and all participants were pleased with the response it generated.
2. SATURDAY HOMEWORK CLUB
Activities concerning the promotion of refugee children's education have taken place mainly on Saturdays during the school year.
Saturday Homework Club for Refugee Children in Smethwick
| Background Information | Program size | Age range | Evaluation | Program Fee |
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Venue for Homework: Holy Trinity Church, Parish of the Resurrection Church Hill Street, Smethwick B67 7AH Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Days: Saturdays
Duration of the project: March 2006 to March 2007.
Goals of the project: To inspire and enable refugee children from central Africa origin, especially those disadvantaged by not having English as a first language, to realize their full potential as productive and ready to learn as any other child in the normal school.
Resources used: 1.Human: 3 volunteers & parents 2.Material: books, CD, DVD, Movies show & IT equipment, OHP, etc |
42 children attended the programme during the period of the grant | Preschool to age 21 |
Objective: The evaluation sought to examine the effects of a non-school educational enhancement programme on school performance among refugee children whose English is not the first language and who study in public schools. The evaluation was passed onto all homework attendants as well as the parents of the 42 refugee children who attended the homework club activities during the period of the project. Forty percent of participants were female and the average participant age was 12.3 years. Approximately 99% of learners were black Africans, 1% mixed race.
Methodology: Follow-up data were collected 1, 3, and 5 months after the project started.
Outcomes Examined: This study evaluated the effects of homework club program on refugee children's academic performance in schools.
Measurement Instruments: Trained data collectors, blind to homework aims and programme/comparison assignments, visited the homework site and obtained baseline data during the project activities. Self-report information from attendants, homework evaluation reports from volunteers (by phone, and occasionally at home), and reports from Care Link (grade data, attendance, and behavior incidents) were obtained.
Impact/Outcome Findings: After 12 months of project activities, greater engagement and enjoyment in reading, verbal skills, writing, and tutoring, plus greater enjoyment in geography, science, art, confidence in English were found from programme participants. |
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| Out of School/ Summer Activities | Mentoring | Tutoring | Counselling/ Therapy | Educational visits | Clinic/ Provider-based | Service/ Vocational learning | Parenting | Other |
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| Educational/ Cognitive | Social/ Emotional | Life Skills | Physical Health | Behaviour Problems | Reproductive | Citizenship | Mental Health |
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The sort of activities that refugee children have been doing during the period of the project
All homework activities were related to work that children are doing at school. However, all homework assignments were not always written work. For young children it was largely:
- Reading with parents or volunteers
- Informal games to practice mathematical skills
For older children, homework included:
- Reading
- Preparing a presentation to the class
- Finding out information
- Making something
- Trying out a simple scientific experiment
- Understanding the English culture
At the end of the grant period children who continue to attend the club have asked Care Link Management Committee to expand the existing programme by covering more subject content, that is to say allow time for researching information on internet and encourage independent study skills and reflection.
In response to this new need, Care Link has come up with the idea of providing facilities for internet access which could enable children to use on Saturdays when local libraries are closed or any day during the week when libraries are highly in use. We now have a space for 6 computers to be broad banded in our office environment and we are exploring ways to raise fund to acquire 6 computers.
We hope this scheme will continue for more years and we are optimistic that such a setting will offer sessions for parents to understand the ways in which their children learn, and in particular, extend the understanding of learning through play activities. Such scheme to our understanding will help develop positive attitudes to learning and social skills.