A housing
rehabilitation project has been completed, creating a new environment for refugee
students on the West Side to seek additional after-school help.
The house, located at
307 14th St., was
rehabilitated for Jericho Road Ministries, a faith-based organization,
dedicated to addressing health, education and economic barriers for refugees and low-income members of the community.
Jericho Road is
utilizing the space for a program established for high school students who have
moved to the area as refugees and are facing language and educational barriers.
According to Claire
Essley, director of education programs at Jericho Road, many of the students
know basic English but need additional help in math, reading and writing.
The students named
the program EPIC, which stands for Education, Purpose, Integrity and Courage.
In this program students are not only helped with their current studies, but
are also prepared for standardized tests and higher education.
Besides the
educational barriers that these students face, many of them also come from
traumatic backgrounds and suffer from posttraumatic stress disorders.
“We have adopted a
rabbit for the program because we have found that animals have been very therapeutic
for these students. Since many of them come from traumatic backgrounds and
suffer PTSD, we found that these animals make a difference in the kids’
attitudes at the program,” said Essley.
“Jericho Road
Ministries is also collaborating with Houghton College for a larger location
that will provide greater resources for the students,” said Professor of Education Charles Massey of Houghton College. Story by
Chanice Johnson and Jennine Taberski
