The Francophone Community Partnership provides a safe, empowering space for first- / second-generation immigrant children from Francophone West Africa and French-learning college students to nurture each other's language skills, confidence, and cultural awareness. Every week, at Henry C. Lea Elementary School, 5th to 10th graders and Penn undergraduate students meet for an hour of intensive langua
ge practice and cultural exchange. Among Lea students, countries represented include Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Benin, Niger... Ages range from 10 to 16, as Lea students' older siblings are invited to join. Participants are matched according to language level, needs, and wishes. The format and content of their collaborative work depend on each Lea student's unique profile, as well as on whether she belongs to one or the other of the following groups:
→ Recent immigrant youth (proficient French speakers): Penn students provide support with English language development; Lea students, in turn, challenge their Penn peers to engage in French conversation.
→ US-born and/or raised youth (heritage French learners): Penn students encourage French language maintenance and/or revitalization, as well as Lea students’ engagement with their respective cultural backgrounds. The FCP is, first and foremost, a labor of love. Born out of complementary needs, it is run by students, designed with the community, and constantly reshaped based on input from students, families, school staff members.
