05/26/2026
Thank you, St. Louis Post Dispatch for highlighting our Tutoring Program and how we have lost the federal funding needed to continue this program:
"Mahaz Salarzai learned English when he was little by watching cartoons on his mom's phone.
Now 12, Mahaz has been attending weekly tutoring sessions at Affton High School. He does not have to rely on episodes of "SpongeBob SquarePants" to master English. And his tutor, who Mahaz said is "very nice," also helps with what he is learning in school.
"He teaches me stuff I didn't know," Mahaz said.
The free tutoring that helped Mahaz and dozens of other young refugees from Afghanistan is facing an uncertain future.
The program, run by nonprofit Welcome Neighbor STL, is one of several supports for Afghan refugees in St. Louis that local leaders say are under threat as federal funding expires."
Read the full article here - https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/article_5245dbc8-5c65-4261-a359-ee9881232aa6.html
➡️ We are urgently raising $45,000 to cover all costs to run this program for the 2026/27 school year. Will you help us continue this transformative program?
💜 Without this support, students could lose access to the tutoring and relationship building that help them thrive in their new community.
👉 Every gift makes a difference, donate here - https://givebutter.com/welcome-neighbor-stl-fundraiser-for-wednesday-evening-tutoring-ueus5g
Thank you for standing with St. Louis refugee families and helping students build a brighter future!
A tutoring program run by nonprofit Welcome Neighbor STL is one of several supports for Afghan refugees in St. Louis that leaders say are under threat as federal funding expires.
