At Arab American Family Services, we are working hard to ensure that our youth’s futures are bright and successful. We believe that working on learning issues early in life will give an opportunity to correct issues and help lay the pavement for successful futures in junior high school, high school and the college years.
Our tutoring program is held every Monday and Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Bridgeview Community Center, 7900 S. Oketo Ave. in Bridgeview.
Our student’s success stories from past sessions is what keeps us going strong. One story that stands out among many is a student we first met several months ago. He was not happy to attend the tutoring program and wanted to quit, despite his mother urging him to continue. He would constantly misbehave and take tutoring as a joke, his grades were poor. AAFS Tutoring Program coordinators met with his teacher and asked if she can bring the child to the meeting so that he can see that tutoring is serious. We wanted the student to see that we were trying to help him.
We gradually began to see a positive change in the students behavior. We were impressed with his change. He began to take tutoring serious. The student is caring and considerate, even helping tutor other students who are struggling. Recently, we reconnected with his teacher to follow-up on his behavior and academics in school. We were pleased to hear from his principal and teacher that his grades are the best they have ever been. They told us they believe that the tutoring program has changed this student around, completely.
Learning is something we never stop doing, and you are never too old to learn. Recently, we had a mother of a child who we tutor ask if she can come to tutoring with her child so that she can learn as well.
The mother was also informed about the ESL classes that AAFS offers, in which she showed great interest. It is inspiring to see the parents coming in and wanting to learn as well. This also encourages the students, to see their parents taking an active role in their education.
The tutoring program is intended for children from the 1st to the 8th grade. What sets us a side from other organizations that our services are free and it’s helping low income families that cannot afford paying for tutors to tutor their children. But also knowing that we may have made a difference in a child’s life who has been struggling academically.
We are always looking for tutors who will help shape more children’s lives. If you or someone you know is interested in tutoring, or may benefit from the tutoring program, please give us a call at (708) 599-2237.
(708) 599-2237
