Making House Calls

The mission of Immigrant & Refugee Women’s Program (IRWP) is to increase the independence and reduce the isolation of immigrant and refugee women by teaching them basic English and practical living skills at no cost in the security of their own homes. Since 1995, IRWP has helped women who have arrived in St. Louis, Missouri from other countries to make a new life in the United States.

“These women come from very dangerous situations in their home countries,” says Sister Rosel Marie Feder. "We teach them in their homes because they are already comfortable in their surroundings. Also, they save the time and money of getting a babysitter and finding transportation.

“I have the opportunity to get to know their family members. I use their names and the things in the house as part of the lessons. We meet two times a week and we usually work with them for three to four years. I make it a point to learn some phrases in their native tongue. They become the teacher and I am the student, resulting in higher self-confidence for them.

“The women I have taught the past three years have been in their 30s and 40s. They have come from Ethiopia, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The woman from Ethiopia is now a U.S. citizen.

“Our foundress Blessed Theresa reached out to women and children who are poor through education. As School Sisters, our gift of internationality prepares us to do this kind of work while respecting and honoring the various cultures and languages of the people we serve.”

Even with 105 volunteer teachers logging nearly 3,900 hours of service, IRWP has a waiting list.

Are you interested in making a house call? 

To learn more about this program, please visit www.irwp.net/help.html.

Photo credit:  Linda Behrens, Community Engagement Staff