Facilitating Online Learning for Refugee Children during COVID-19 Pandemic
A Project Funded by Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego
Ryan Kan
Background
During the COVID-19 pandemic, life has been very difficult, especially for the disadvantaged groups, including refugee families. Nonprofit organizations, like San Diego Refugee Tutoring (SDRT), have been supplying these families with the bare necessities to cover for shortages of food, everyday supplies, and PPE. However, the refugee children are still vulnerable to the threat of a growing divide in educational resources, accelerated by COVID-19.
Many scholars and academics who have extensively studied educational gaps have warned of an explosion of the learning disparity during COVID-19 times [1]. The amplified importance of education for refugees had been made clear via extensive studies and research [2].¬¬¬ Being aware of this, SDRT has stepped in and started online tutoring the children and help them to keep up with school works. As a SDRT tutor, I have witnessed these warnings manifest first hand.
Since the public schools’ transition to online classes, these families have been lacking proper equipment for their children to continue their education. Furthermore, many of the parents do not speak English. Some are not sufficiently aware of these learning situations and cannot help the kids to go to online classes on time or regularly. To mitigate setbacks caused from distance learning, SDRT started online tutoring to keep children up with school work. However, observations from myself and fellow volunteer tutors lead me to believe more support is needed. During some of the tutoring session, volunteers often notice children on the floor, on the sofa, and even in the bed. It is really hard for them to stay focused without a proper studying environment. They are also lacking school supplies. Even before the pandemic, access to supplies was limited for the refugee community and during COVID-19, these resources have become more scarce.
The goal of this proposal is to garner funding to provide the students with proper learning equipment and materials so they can fulfill their school learning and get help effectively during the tutoring sessions.
References
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/17/why-covid-19-will-explode-existing-academic-achievement-gaps/
[2] Thomas, R.L. The Right to Quality Education for Refugee Children Through Social Inclusion. J. Hum. Rights Soc. Work 1, 193–201 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-016-0022-z
During the COVID-19 pandemic, life has been very difficult, especially for the disadvantaged groups, including refugee families. Nonprofit organizations, like San Diego Refugee Tutoring (SDRT), have been supplying these families with the bare necessities to cover for shortages of food, everyday supplies, and PPE. However, the refugee children are still vulnerable to the threat of a growing divide in educational resources, accelerated by COVID-19.
Many scholars and academics who have extensively studied educational gaps have warned of an explosion of the learning disparity during COVID-19 times [1]. The amplified importance of education for refugees had been made clear via extensive studies and research [2].¬¬¬ Being aware of this, SDRT has stepped in and started online tutoring the children and help them to keep up with school works. As a SDRT tutor, I have witnessed these warnings manifest first hand.
Since the public schools’ transition to online classes, these families have been lacking proper equipment for their children to continue their education. Furthermore, many of the parents do not speak English. Some are not sufficiently aware of these learning situations and cannot help the kids to go to online classes on time or regularly. To mitigate setbacks caused from distance learning, SDRT started online tutoring to keep children up with school work. However, observations from myself and fellow volunteer tutors lead me to believe more support is needed. During some of the tutoring session, volunteers often notice children on the floor, on the sofa, and even in the bed. It is really hard for them to stay focused without a proper studying environment. They are also lacking school supplies. Even before the pandemic, access to supplies was limited for the refugee community and during COVID-19, these resources have become more scarce.
The goal of this proposal is to garner funding to provide the students with proper learning equipment and materials so they can fulfill their school learning and get help effectively during the tutoring sessions.
References
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/17/why-covid-19-will-explode-existing-academic-achievement-gaps/
[2] Thomas, R.L. The Right to Quality Education for Refugee Children Through Social Inclusion. J. Hum. Rights Soc. Work 1, 193–201 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-016-0022-z
Goal
The goal of this proposal is to garner funding to provide the students with proper learning equipment and materials so they can fulfill their school learning and get help effectively during the tutoring sessions.
The goal of this proposal is to garner funding to provide the students with proper learning equipment and materials so they can fulfill their school learning and get help effectively during the tutoring sessions.
Method *
1. Interview refugee families and SDRT staff via Zoom meetings.
2. Collect information on items most needed for online learning.
3. Research the prices and allocated the funding of different items.
4. Purchase the items online. 5. Plan and help with the delivery and setting up.
1. Interview refugee families and SDRT staff via Zoom meetings.
2. Collect information on items most needed for online learning.
3. Research the prices and allocated the funding of different items.
4. Purchase the items online. 5. Plan and help with the delivery and setting up.
Update
(July 13, 2020)
I have reached out to SDRT and contacted several refugee families that they are working with to come up with a list of items they most desperately need. I will most likely finalize the list by the end of this week.
As for outside funding, I have created GoFundMe page for this project. I have been promoting it through various social media platforms.
I have reached out to SDRT and contacted several refugee families that they are working with to come up with a list of items they most desperately need. I will most likely finalize the list by the end of this week.
As for outside funding, I have created GoFundMe page for this project. I have been promoting it through various social media platforms.