ESL Buddy Program For Refugee Women

Program Overview

Amani's ESL Buddy Program pairs women volunteers and Amani clients for 1:1 conversation at Amani's facility on 3777 Church Street, Clarkston, GA 30021. This a one-hour conversation once or twice weekly focusing on your partner's identified goals and needs. The objective is to help refugee women improve their conversational English. Be an Amani ESL Buddy. Complete the Volunteer application (amaniwomencenter.org)

Hours: Mon- Sat 10am - 3pm

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

Zahara said. She joined the Amani Sewing Academy in 2022. She also started taking English lessons through Amani's ESL Buddies program, which helps women develop the language skills needed for daily life, employment, and community engagement. Zahara excelled in both her sewing and English classes. After graduating in September, 2023, she quickly landed a full-time job at a nearby garment factory, where she's been so successful she was named “Rookie of the Year." “I like my job. The people are very nice; sometimes very funny," she said. As the only Muslim among her coworkers she often gets questions about wearing a headscarf, but not in a way that makes her feel uncomfortable. Her coworkers seem genuinely interested in her and want to be supportive of her culture. They were among the first to praise her when she started communicating in English. “They tell me, listen to how much English you are speaking! When you first came here you didn't say anything at all. Now you are talking, talking in English all the time," she said with delight.