College Help for Immigrants and Refugees: SWS 838

Seattle World School Scholarships and Mentoring 838

Mission

Help Seattle's IMMIGRANT and REFUGEE youth continue their education after high school and reach their educational goals.

We're the only Seattle college access and success program specifically for immigrant and refugee English language learners as they move on from high school to college or University.

We try to help students with whatever is needed to remove obstacles to successful completion of chosen educational goals.

This year we need your support more than ever.  If you care about Seattle's immigrant and refugee population, you know the challenges faced right now.  

 Already 50 students have applied for our 2026-27 cohort, joining our current 65 students in the program.  Please consider a donation here or through our website:  www.friendsofseattleworldschool.com.  We're participating in GiveBig this year to see if is a good fit for us - we will see how it works!

We are all volunteers so all contributions are passed directly to students through their educational institutions.    We are a small organization and a little money goes a long way with our students.  

Description

Since 2007, we've awarded scholarships and offered 1:1 mentoring to over 400 students.  Financial aid is not enough for our students to attend school.  They need funds for living:  housing, food, transportation, clothes, medical/dental, books, supplies, tools, internet, etc.  We help make it possible for students to attend school while supporting themselves and their families.

We give ALL funds we raise directly to students, except for a 6% fiscal management fee to the Alliance for Education.  We can do this because our leadership and mentors are all volunteers -- "Friends of Seattle World School".  

Our students arrived here as teens from all over the world - while they still could enter the U.S.  Students came from Vietnam, Somalia, China, Laos, Liberia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Kenya, Mexico, Eritrea, El Salvador, Gambia, Senegal, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Mali, Syria, Qatar, Yemen, Cambodia, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Palestine, DR Congo, Iran, Russia, Peru, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Ukraine.

Any student who attended the Seattle World School (SWS - the Seattle public high school for teens needing to learn English) is eligible -- regardless of which public high school they graduate from.  We serve graduates from SWS, Garfield, Franklin, Rainier Beach, Roosevelt, Ingraham, Nathan Hale, Chief Sealth, and Lincoln high schools.

Our students attend local community colleges and the UW, taking everything from Basic English to automotive to social work to engineering to pre-med studies.  Many work part or even full time while they are going to school.

Students stay in our program as long as they need or want our help.  We give away whatever we raise each year.  Awards range from $600 - $4000, with larger amounts for students as they move along in their education, or for those with greater needs.  

WHAT WE DO:  

We recruit interested and eligible seniors at Seattle pubic high schools with Seattle World School alumni, and invite applications.  

We interview applicants and get to know each selected student so we can provide them with the specific assistance needed.   We accept students who range in ability from struggling to excelling, as long as they are motivated to improve and to work hard.

We pay for gaps in tuition, fees, transportation, laptops, hotspots, internet, test fees, food, medical/dental/eye care, glasses, rent, utilities, even winter jackets. 

We provide 1:1 mentoring for as long as it takes to completed educational goals -- we meet with students regularly, stay in close contact, send reminders as needed.  We help with choosing classes, majors, registering, understanding financial aid, accessing funds, transferring to 4 year college, writing resumes and personal statements, accessing resources, finding opportunities for English practice -- whatever is needed.  

All of our students attend Seattle area colleges or universities,  so we can develop ongoing relationships easily.  We know it's important for each student to know they have an adult who cares about them and their success. We have a good track record and enjoy many long term relationships with our wonderful students. We know how hard they work to achieve their goals. We really enjoy getting to know them and seeing them grow and learn.