Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI) – NGO – USA 

At a Glance: IFSI-USA

The Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI-USA) is an NGO located in Boston, which serves recent immigrants and immigrant families, including people from Haiti. They use a holistic approach to help immigrant children to maximize their full potential. In addition, IFSI-USA advocates for immigrant rights, helping with alternative paths to citizenship and providing accurate and timely information about and responses to new developments. 

“I hope we will find people who show us some love, which is really needed since we still have nothing here. We don’t know how long we’ll be here, and we’re facing all kinds of difficulties… and we are the lucky ones.”

Quote from Doro, one of the service users at IFSI-USA. Click here to read more.

Challenges at IFSI-USA

1. Increasing demand

In 2021, IFSI-USA saw a huge increase in demand for services. Alongside the global Covid 19 pandemic, events in Haiti led to an increase in people traveling to the USA to seek asylum and achieve a better life. 

“Everything that a human being needs, they need. Mattresses, beds, a cup to drink your tea, a spoon. We have to provide all of those things because they are here with no money, they don’t know the area, (and) they just need a place to live.”

Dr. Geralde Gabeau, Executive Director at IFSI-USA. Click here to read more.

2. Volunteer management

In January 2022, a number of new volunteer teachers joined IFSI-USA to help with the expanding English program. These teachers needed to be confident and start teaching quickly.

3. Reaching students in Haiti.

IFSI-USA teaches classes both online and in-person, meaning the English program has an extensive reach. Around 80% of the participants are from Haiti – with some students connecting to classes virtually from across Haiti and the USA.

4. Diverse student needs.

Many of the students at IFSI-USA arrive in the USA with beginner-level English. They face various challenges, including being unauthorized to work, low tech confidence, ongoing immigration cases, and a general lack of resources. They need English support to meet their immediate needs and communicate with those around them in English.

Off2Class solutions

1. Growing the English program.

To meet the increased need, IFSI-USA has been doubling the size of its English teaching program and will be reaching 400 students in 2022. 

2. Supporting teachers.

Off2Class is well suited for teachers who are new to teaching, or who have not taught online before. The system is easy-to-use and provides a curriculum for teachers to follow. In addition, synchronous teacher notes guide the teachers through every single slide, so volunteers know exactly how to deliver high-quality lessons.

“As a teacher, I like the lesson-specific objectives. When I first started teaching English to ESL adult learners, I had little experience, but Off2class made me appear like a pro.”

Vayola Florus, English teacher at IFSI-USA

3. Digital-first resources designed for remote learning.

Off2Class lessons are designed to work perfectly for online teaching. Therefore, IFSI-USA teachers in the USA can easily connect with students living in Haiti.

4. Practical English to use immediately.

The English classes at IFSI-USA aim to help the students meet their immediate needs and communicate with those around them in English. Therefore, the teachers make use of Off2Class lessons for complete beginners, and functional English skills which cover topics like “using public transport”.

“Off2class delivers instructional activities that require the use of all four skills that are necessary for ESL students which is great. It also significantly simplifies lesson planning and saves time. I can choose which courses to study with my students and supplement them with activities outside of the site, but there is also a whole curriculum accessible for different levels that can be utilized like an English book.”

Vayola Florus, English teacher at IFSI-USA

Supporting students when they need it most

The past two years have been extremely challenging for newcomers to the USA, and the students at IFSI-USA are no exception. Off2Class has been able to support IFSI-USA to deliver high-quality instruction where it is needed most. For more information about how Off2Class can provide resources for NGOs and Institutions, book a consultation with our friendly advisors.