IRC First Things First Program in Need

The IRC First Things First Family Learning Center First Things First provides English and literacy classes to refugee and prepares their young children for kindergarten. 

Each day, over 60 adults arrive eager to learn.  For many, it is their first time to attend school in their lives and they must start with the very basics - including learning how to hold a pencil.   With dedicated teachers and volunteers, the First Things First program is able to offer at 1:4 teacher student ratio, which allows the students to proceed at their own pace.    Within a short time, the students are able to read, write and speak English well enough to become employed or attend classes through the community college.

The program also offers an onsite childcare for the children of the adult students. The children learn English, their ABCs, and classroom expectations.  These students begin kindergarten ready to learn rather than already behind.

Please click here to view a short video about the First Things First Program. 

The First Things First program is striving to become a licensed childcare facility which will allow the program to serve more children and adults, become eligible for YMCA and county childcare reimbursements, and apply for a wider range of funding opportunities.

To become a licensed facility,  playground and classroom modifications are required. It is estimated that these improvements will cost $25,000.   The IRC recently raised $10,000 at a fundraiser and has received a pledge of $5,000 from Warwick's Books in La Jolla. However, we are still in need of assistance.If you would like to make a contribution to this effort, please click here.

For more information, contact Colleen Krause, Program Manager, at Colleen.Krause@theIRC.org or 619 641 7510 x242.

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