Children and Youth Support

As the United States highest resettlement city, Sacramento has become home for over 12,000 refugees and immigrants.

Adjusting to a new life, a different culture, and a foreign language can be very difficult. Creating programs that families can look to for guidance and resources is only a small step in our mission to build welcoming communities.

World Relief Sacramento understands that the journey of an immigrant or refugee doesn’t end upon arrival. Our services are meant to help the youth in our community adjust to their new environments, ask questions, and to help them feel a sense of safety and belonging. Through connection and mutual learning, we can all grow together as a community. Our curriculum focuses on social emotional learning topics that not only teach our students about respect, integrity, and advocacy, but also ensure the cross-cultural meanings and values that our families bring to the community are learned and appreciated all spaces. We strive to ensure an atmosphere of value and welcome, regardless of politics, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other barrier that vulnerable communities face. We are one community.

Providing Resources for Healthy Development

At World Relief, our desire is to see these youth and families flourish and reach their fullest potential, despite the early obstacles they face upon immigrating.

We work to facilitate the healthy integration of immigrant youth into life in the United States by connecting youth and their parents, teachers, and administrators with early childhood programming, summer camps, multilingual academic support, mentorship, mental health resources, and other community integration opportunities.

Our Programs

Welcome Club

The Welcome Club is an afterschool program that assists 3^rd-8^th grade refugee youth in our community. The club helps create opportunities in multiple areas of integration to encourage refugee children to flourish in school and in life. At Welcome Club we address different character lessons and help our students understand what those words mean here in the US. We learn about each other’s culture, we ask questions, and we listen to every voice. These values have proven to support the growth of children and have helped them adjust to life in the US.

Children and youth services has given us the opportunity to also support the parents and family members of our Welcome Clubbers. We help families understand and become a part of the school system, help them connect with resources, and provide a sense of community and trust.

LEAD

LEAD is an afterschool program that operates in local high schools, mentoring 9^th-12^th grade students. At LEAD, we walk our students through a 10-week curriculum that focuses on different areas of leadership, the importance of academics, and connection. Helping our students feel seen, heard, and showing them how important their voice is. We are always looking for guest speakers to share their passions and talents, as well as Coaches to mentor and guide our newly arrived refugee youth.

Be a Coach

Welcome Club and LEAD would not be possible without our volunteer coaches. As Coach you will be helping support the lead in your assigned classroom. This entails following curriculum plans, preparing supplies, and leading discussion groups (when comfortable). Our Coaches provide different types of support, mentorship, and activities. We encourage everyone to share their talents and we assign tasks accordingly. All of our coaches become a part of our Children and Youth team.

Want to be a Coach? Learn more about how to become a volunteer >>

Can your child enroll in Welcome Club or LEAD?

Welcome Club and LEAD are currently operating at local Carmichael school sites. If your child attends one of these schools, they may be eligible. Check with your school principal to see if Welcome Club or LEAD are available at your school site.

Apply to Volunteer

Refugee and other immigrant youth face significant challenges as they try to adapt to American culture, reestablish community and friendships, and adjust to new schooling and educational expectations.

These obstacles can be crippling. But they don’t have to be.

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"My coaches taught me how to do multiplication and now I can do my math homework!"

- Marwah, Welcome Club student

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Your generosity makes a transformative and lifelong impact. When you give, you’ll join our family of passionate changemakers committed to changing our world.