South Sudanese Enrichment For Families Inc

SOUTH SUDANESE ENRICHMENT FOR FAMILIES (SSEF) PROVIDES WHOLE-FAMILY PROGRAMMING FOR EDUCATION, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ENRICHMENT FOR THE GREATER BOSTON SOUTH SUDANESE COMMUNITY. SSEF IS THE ONLY WHOLE-FAMILY RESOURCE DEDICATED TO SOUTH SUDANESE WHO HAVE RESETTLED IN MASSACHUSETTS. COMMITTED TO ENHANCING STRENGTHS, BUILDING SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND PROMOTING COMMUNITY, SSEF ASSISTS WITH NAVIGATING SYSTEMS, ACCESSING RESOURCES, BUILDING SKILLS, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE SOUTH SUDAN'S HISTORY AND DISTINCT CULTURAL HERITAGE. SSEF DOES THIS BY CONNECTING SOUTH SUDANESE ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN WITH THE FOLLOWING: - ACCESSIBLE PRESCHOOL- SUMMER CAMP OPPORTUNITIES- COMMUNITY-BASED ENRICHMENT- ASSISTANCE WITH FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING- WHOLE-FAMILY EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS THAT MEET THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR- OUTREACH PROGRAMS, CROSS-CULTURAL EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS

THE SOUTH SUDANESE ENRICHMENT FOR FAMILIES TRIES TO INTERVENE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND WITH THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES. CURRENTLY, SSEF'S AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE:EARLY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM: SSEF FEELS VERY STRONGLY THAT EVERY CHILD OF THE SOUTH SUDANESE COMMUNITY SHOULD ATTEND PRESCHOOL. THE FAMILIES THEMSELVES BELIEVE STRONGLY ABOUT EDUCATION BUT PRESCHOOL IS VERY EXPENSIVE! SSEF GIVES FAMILIES A STIPEND FOR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS AND HELPS THOSE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR VOUCHERS. DURING THE PANDEMIC A FEW PRESCHOOLS WERE OPEN AND OFFERED SCHOLARSHIPS. IN THE FALL OF 2021, PARENTS STARTED ENROLLING THEIR CHILDREN INTO PRESCHOOL AGAIN, AFTER CONCERNS WITH COVID-19 IN 2020.CAMP PROGRAM: SSEF HAVE A SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGED 8 TO 17. THESE ARE TRADITIONAL CAMPS AND EDUCATIONAL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS.MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: AS MUCH AS SSEF CAN, IT MATCHES SOUTH SUDANESE WITH AN AMERICAN MENTOR. THIS CAN BE LONG-TERM OR SHORT-TERM. THE ORGANIZATION HAS OVER 25 MENTORS WHO WORK WITH SOUTH SUDANESE ON SCHOOL APPLICATIONS, DEBT PAYMENT STRUCTURING, BUDGETING, ACCESS TO SOCIAL AND LOCAL SERVICES, AND THE LIKE. DUE TO COVID-19, THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED VIRTUALLY.SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM: SSEF HAS A SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM IN WHICH WE DO PRESENTATION IN SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND CHURCHES ON THE STORY OF THE "LOST BOYS AND GIRLS AND THE PLIGHT OF SOUTHERN SUDAN NOW. SSEF IS COMMITTED TO TEACHING THE PUBLIC ABOUT ISSUES FACING SUDAN. DUE TO COVID-19, THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED VIRTUALLY.GETTING AHEAD PROGRAM: STARTED AS A PILOT PROGRAM IN 2021. DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE LOWEST-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY OFFERING THEM FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR DRIVER'S EDUCATION, CITIZENSHIP, AUTO REPAIRS - ANYTHING THAT HELPS THEM TO GET AHEAD OF EXPENSES.WOMEN'S PROGRAM: DESIGNED TO HELP THE WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY, THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND ASSISTANCE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. SSEF'S GOAL THROUGH ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY BE SELF-RELIANT AND AS RESILIENT AS POSSIBLE.

CAMP PROGRAM: WE HAVE A CAMP PROGRAM FOR THE CHILDREN 8 TO 14. ALL SUMMER RESIDENTIAL AND MANY DAY CAMPS WERE CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19. WE OFFERED VIRTUAL PROGRAM FOR KIDS FOCUSING ON YOGA, BOOK GROUP, AND COOKING CLASSES.

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM: SSEF HAS A SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM IN WHICH WE DO PRESENTATION IN SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND CHURCHES ON THE STORY OF THE "LOST BOYS AND GIRLS AND THE PLIGHT OF SOUTHERN SUDAN NOW. WE ARE COMMITTED TO TEACHING THE PUBLIC ABOUT ISSUES FACING SUDAN. DUE TO COVID-19, THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED VIRTUALLY.MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: AS MUCH AS WE CAN, WE MATCH SOUTH SUDANESE WITH AN AMERICAN MENTOR. THIS CAN BE LONG TERM OR SHORT TERM. WE HAVE OVER 25 MENTORS WHO WORK WITH SOUTH SUDANESE ON SCHOOL APPLICATIONS, DEBT PAYMENT STRUCTURING, BUDGETING, ACCESS TO SOCIAL AND LOCAL SERVICES, AND THE LIKE.DUE TO COVID-19, THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED VIRTUALLY.COVID-19 PANDEMIC:THE SOUTH SUDANESE COMMUNITY WAS HIT VERY HARD BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. MANY WOMEN WORK IN NURSING HOMES, WHICH ARE HIGH RISK AND LOW PAYING JOBS. MANY MEN WORK IN HOTELS AND WERE LAID OFF. ALMOST ALL CHILDREN WERE LEARNING REMOTELY - ALL WERE HOME LEARNING WHICH WAS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL.SSEF OFFERED PROGRAMS DURING THE SUMMER WHICH WERE REMOTE. SSEF WAS ALSO GIVEN TWO GRANTS FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING USED WHERE FAMILIES WERE AFFECTED BY COVID-19. WE HAD PLANNED TO HOLD A GALA ON MAY 5, 2020 TO CELEBRATE THE LOST BOYS BEING HERE FOR 20 YEARS; HOWEVER, THE IN-PERSON GALA WAS CANCELLED. THE PANDEMIC CHANGED HOW WE USED THE MONEY FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAMS DURING 2020. SSEF DID NOT OFFER FUNDS FOR CAMP BUT INSTEAD OFFERED PROGRAMS AND OFFERED EQUIPMENT TO FAMILIES TO GET THE KIDS OUTSIDE AND ACTIVE.

EARLY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM: SSEF FEELS VERY STRONGLY THAT EVERY CHILD OF THE SOUTH SUDANESE COMMUNITY SHOULD ATTEND PRESCHOOL. THE FAMILIES THEMSELVES BELIEVE STRONGLY ABOUT EDUCATION BUT PRESCHOOL IS VERY EXPENSIVE! SSEF GIVES FAMILIES A STIPEND FOR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS AND HELPS THOSE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR VOUCHERS. DURING THE PANDEMIC A FEW PRESCHOOLS WERE OPEN AND OFFERED SCHOLARSHIPS. DUE TO COVID-19 RELATED HEALTH CONCERNS, MANY PARENTS DID NOT ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN INTO PRESCHOOL.