IISTL's After school Program

A Supportive Space for Refugee Teens to Learn, Find Community, and Have Fun

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For Follow Lyn’s Footstep’s initial grant we have selected the After School Education Program at the International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL).  This program provides vital academic and social resources for refugee and asylee high schoolers in the City, including tutoring, homework help, technology assistance, and field trips and other fun activities promoting cultural acclimation.  

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The two-woman crew who run the program are passionate, but under-resourced.  The After School Program is entirely grant or donation-funded, operating on a very small annual budget that constricts the ability to meet demand and expand services.  Support from Follow Lyn’s Footsteps may allow the After School Program to:

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• Increase enrollment, enabling more teens to get the help they need

• Add desperately needed program staff

• Purchase additional academic and enrichment resources

• Fund an end-of-year celebration for the students

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Why the IISTL After School Program?

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Lyn had a soft spot for adolescents and teens, especially those struggling to fit in and find their place in the world.  She would not be the least bit ashamed for others to know that she felt like a misfit throughout her teen years due to a quirkiness and braininess which served her well in adulthood, but made her own high school years a struggle.  She never forgot this and nurtured her own seven children through many of their own teenage trials and tribulations, while also serving as a trusted confidant and mentor for other adolescents and teens who felt lost or were in need of comfort.  She also viewed St. Louis's immigrant communities as one of its greatest assets and core to the city's vibrancy.  She loved walking along Grand Avenue and popping into ethnic grocers, visiting Bosnian-run cafes in the Bevo Mill neighborhood, and fawning over the rich, ornate clothing and textiles showcased among the Somali community.

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For the Fund's kickoff, our family cannot think of a more fitting tribute to these values than our support of this program. We expect to award this grant in January.