Youth Programs
Youth Programs
Youth Development
Kandelia champions youth and builds them up so they can be their full authentic selves. We provide students with tools to achieve academic success, job readiness and greater self-sufficiency.
Many of our youth programs are based at Seattle World School, one of only a few public schools in the country designed for newly arrived refugee and immigrant youth. Each year, we work with approximately 350 students from all over the world speaking more than 30 languages. As English language learners, these youth face significant language and cultural barriers to navigating their new environment. They confront challenges accessing academic, career and community opportunities.
Kandelia meets immigrant and refugee youth where they are with programs that are culturally responsive and holistically enriching. We build strong connections with students and provide a network of support that reduces systemic barriers to success.
Our youth programs support individual and group learning using equitable and trauma-informed, restorative practices. We integrate academic and leadership support, civic and family engagement, art and culture, employment and job training, and sports and active programs — with many activities that provide support in students’ home languages. Previous students often return to volunteer or mentor current students.
After-school programs
Our after-school programs engage students with a focus on English comprehension. We provide one-on-one homework help to put students on a path to academic success and greater self-sufficiency, and offer a range of other after-school classes and activities based on student interest spanning the arts, robotics, service learning, sports and more.
Student and family support
We work with each student one-on-one to ensure our programs meet their needs. We reduce barriers to participation, such as by facilitating access to transportation. We connect students and their families to resources that help them thrive, including through our Food Access program, where youth can take home a weekly bag of groceries to improve their family’s access to healthy food.
Convening partner
Kandelia leverages our expertise to make sure that the student experience at Seattle World School is culturally responsive and meets the needs of English language learners. We provide ongoing support to other community organizations and instructional staff to help them engage effectively with all students.
Kandelia is honored to coordinate our youth programs in collaboration with Seattle World School and other community partners.
testimonial
“I was 13 years old… English, I knew just the basics like ask somebody’s name. When I was here I had an opportunity to communicate with other people and they push me to speak in English. Now I think that I have 4 years and my English is growing everyday.“
–Juan Carlos Vasquez
Your support can make all the difference
3829B S Edmunds St Box 9
Seattle, WA 98118
info@kandelia.org
206-760-1573
Tax ID: 911122532
programs
Stories from our Community
Read about the folks in our community who have shared their stories and experiences with us.
Patrick's Story
From Kenya to Seattle: Patrick’s Journey and the Impact of Community
We met Patrick when he was 16 years old and had just moved to Seattle from Kenya. After enrolling at Seattle World School (SWS), he got connected with Kandelia and started building a community for himself here in Seattle. Now, as a soon-to-be graduate of the University of Washington, Patrick shares his journey, the support that helped him along the way, and his plans to give back to the Seattle community that he loves.
Patrick’s journey to Seattle began when his mother, who had come to the U.S. as a refugee in 2008, sponsored him to join her in 2014. Adjusting to life in a new country came with its challenges and moments of discovery. For Patrick, one of the first surprises was the bathrooms. He laughed, recalling his initial reaction: “This is so sustainable! You just flush, just like that! This is so easy!”
Although Patrick arrived with a basic understanding of English, he noted that many people often spoke too fast. “I knew how to say ‘hi’, ‘how are you?’, but sometimes I would miss what people were saying because they were talking too fast. I would struggle with complex words.”
Patrick was able to enroll at Seattle World School, a public school designed for newcomers, which helped him get adjusted to a new life here. Starting his US education at SWS meant Patrick was surrounded by other students like him who were newly arrived, and who were also learning English. It also meant he found Kandelia, where he became involved in every program that he could: soccer, homework help, field trips, and Saturday school, to name a few. Patrick shared, “For me that’s how I connected to the school when I was here, is through Kandelia. Kandelia brings the community. Sometimes it's very hard to feel that belonging, but with Kandelia you feel like there is a sense of community.”
Patrick quickly grew to love Seattle. "Oh my god, Seattle is my favorite! I love the rain, people hate the rain, I love rain. I think all four seasons are beautiful." he shared with us. "Seattle is just unique," Patrick says. "It feels like home, because it’s the home I’ve known since coming to the U.S." Patrick is a soon-to-be graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in Community Environment and Planning, an urban planning program that aligns with his passion for community engagement. His goal is to work for the Department of Transportation or in a role that allows him to focus on improving the community. “I love giving back to the community, working for the community, and seeing how we can make progress in Seattle, how we can help each other” he says. Patrick is already deeply involved in his community and currently volunteers with Kandelia in our Food Access Program!
Amidst all the new experiences in the U.S., Patrick has held on to his Kenyan roots. Christmas is especially meaningful to him and his family, who cook traditional Kenyan dishes during the holiday season. "We love Christmas!" he says, smiling at the thought of the foods that bring his family together. "We cook a lot of Kenyan food during that time of year, like chapati and mukimo."
Patrick’s journey from Kenya to Seattle has helped shape his passions and goals. As he looks forward to his future in Seattle, he is eager to continue making a positive impact on the community that has embraced him.
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