Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Refugee Women’s Alliance
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: ReWA
Mailing Address: 4008 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.
City: Seattle
State: Washington
Postal Code: 98108
Main Phone: 206.721.0243
Main Fax: 206.721.0282
Organization Website: https://www.rewa.org/
Employer ID Number: 91-1296964
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 28th, 2024
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: ReWA’s Youth Afterschool and Summer STEAM Program
Project Description:

Refugee Women’s Alliance supports low income, BIPOC, refugee and immigrant youth to meet their potential through its afterschool and summer Youth STEAM Program. Offered at two public schools in South Seattle with a high percentage of English Language Learners, this program provides social-emotional support, literacy training, and enrichment throughout the year to 40 students using a culturally responsive STEAM curriculum (science, technology, engineering, art and math). STEAM activities bring together play, exploration, creativity, and relationships, making space for students to build confidence in their English and share similar lived experiences while learning topics such as coding and robotics. Field trips provide opportunities for hands-on, immersive learning that reinforce classroom learnings. Programming is complemented by bilingual advocates (Spanish, Somali, and other East African languages) who help parents navigate the school system and understand how to support their child’s learning. ReWA Youth Steam program has been in operation for four years. 

Low-income immigrant and refugee students face multiple hurdles in their academic journey. Beyond learning a new language, these children and youth must adjust to a new culture and new school system—some having been absent from school for many years. Added to these challenges, their adult guardians most often speak limited English and struggle to assist them in navigating the academic system. Thus, without adequate support in and outside of school, immigrant and refugee students face greater odds in achieving their potential.

Uniquely, ReWA’s Youth STEAM program provides culturally and linguistically appropriate support for the elementary students and families we serve. ReWA has refined our services to thoroughly meet the emerging needs of our immigrant and refugee clients, and as such ReWA pairs its programs with staff that come from these same communities, who can meet their language barrier needs and who are poised to understand the specific challenges they face.

Total Project Budget: $445,886.00

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): We have 2024-25 program funding the Kawabe Memorial Fund, the Charlotte Martin Foundation, Silver Family Foundation, the City of Seattle, and the Safeco Insurance Fund Education Initiative. The organization is primarily federally and state funded.

Project Duration: 1 year; The STEAM Afterschool program follows the school-year calendar: September – June, Summer STEAM runs from July – August
Geographical Area Served: South Seattle, WA
Age Group To Be Served: Elementary School Grades 3rd-5th, Ages 8-11

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Mahnaz
Contact Last Name: Eshetu
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 2067210243
Contact Email: grants@rewa.org