In June of 2016, the Watertown Community Foundation awarded Saheli with $2,500 for a College Readiness Program for South Asian Girls. The after-school program will help break down cultural and literacy-related barriers to higher education among Pashto- and Urdu-speaking immigrant girls in Watertown. Approximately twelve students will be matched with mentors, who will support them with schoolwork and college applications throughout the 2016-17 school year. Program participants also will learn how to navigate the college application process in interactive workshops, and will visit a women’s college r Boston. The College Readiness Program for South Asian Girls will be headed by Saheli volunteer Gul Shamim, who is a Ph. D. Candidate in Education at UMass Amherst.
We welcome the participation of those who would like to volunteer as “big sisters,” or College Readiness Mentors. Volunteers must be able to commit 2-4 hours per week on weekdays between the hours of 2:30-4:30pm. Preference will be given to volunteers who have knowledge of a South Asian language or culture. To volunteer, apply here.
