Sioux Empire United Way - Agency Success Stories

Providing a Cultural After School Experience
Agency: Multi-Cultural Center Program: Middle School After-School Program Service: Provides free after-school programs for middle school students. The program includes activities, homework help, snacks and free transportation. The program is just one of many after-school options available at Multi-Cultural Center, including: Native Reads, Augie Reads, and Native Youth Club. Need: People from 94 countries, speaking 120 different languages and dialects are a part of the Multi-Cultural Center programs. Local and national research indicates that within the period of 3:30-6pm on weekdays is the highest level of incidence of juvenile criminal, drug, sexual, and alcohol related activity. Impact: Children who attend an after school program miss fewer days of school, have better homework completion, better school behavior, and higher tests scores. Over 150 students were able to participate in the middle school after-school program in 2007.	Imagine being uprooted from the only home you’ve ever known, from your family, friends and school. Now imagine settling in to your new home, not knowing the language, unable to communicate with your teachers, and unsure of how to make friends. This was Chris and Frank’s situation four years ago after moving to Sioux Falls from Guatemala. “When we moved here, I only knew three words,” says Chris, who is now 14. “Yeah,” says Frank, the younger brother, who is 11. “I didn’t know any!” The two of them moved here with their family after their mother was able to get a good job. After moving to Sioux Falls, their mother was able to buy a house, and they now live with their grandparents, parents and their three other siblings. “I was excited to be here,” continues Chris, pictured at left. “One of my friends told me right away that to fit in I had to learn to play American games like football. He told me about the Multi-Cultural Center and how much fun it was.” Chris was able to start attending the After-School Program at the Multi-Cultural Center right away in 6th grade. He’s in his last year of the program now, as he’ll start high school next year. Frank, just being a 6th grader is just starting out. “We get to have field trips and play basketball,” says Frank, pictured at right. “I usually hang out in the homework room to get all of my school stuff done.” The Multi-Cultural Center’s middle school after-school program serves students from Axtell and Whittier Middle Schools, picking them up after school and then taking them home at the end of the day. The program has a little bit of everything, sports, arts and crafts, snacks, homework help, and different educational activities. And thanks to support from Sioux Empire United Way over 150 students were able to participate in the program in 2007. Giving Chris, Frank, and others a place to be after school, “We like it here, we get to hang out with our friends and have fun!”
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