HANDS ACROSS THE WORLD

Causes: Education, Educational Services

Mission: Mission: "To provide a first learning experience to newly arrived immigrants and refugees who do not have the language or living skills to thrive in our community. In a classroom environment, we help both children and parents acquire the tools needed to become integrated citizens of Central Minnesota." Very often, the HANDS ACROSS THE WORLD classroom is the first formal school environment students have attended. Adults learn four communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing; so that they are better equipped to communicate with others, continue their education and secure employment. Children are cared for and taught in a separate classroom. Our students gain the skills and confidence to move on to community adult basic education. Over two dozen students have enrolled to work on their GED, and many will work towards a technical education at St. Cloud Technical College. Over 1,000 Adults and their children have been served by HANDS ACROSS THE WORLD since its founding in 2003. Basic philosophy of our program: "Peace and Justice will reign in our world only to the extent that people learn to live together with a respectful attitude toward each other. Basic to building a sense of respect for “the other” is cultivating an interest in and knowledge of “the other’s” culture, traditions, as well as political and social/religious expectations. “Others” living in the same, common environment need a common language, and similar educational experiences to be able to relate in a meaningful manner. The current refugee and immigrant population transitions occurring in the S. Cloud area, makes it imperative to set up programs that address the needs of both the people-on-the-move as well as those more stable residents in the geographic area. It is the mission of Hands Across the World to collaborate, compliment, and enhance other existing programs in the area to fulfill the basic language and experiential needs of refugees and immigrants entering this mid-Minnesota scene." Tonie Rausch, Co-Founder, September 2006