OUR PROGRAMS
Elena's Light
E S L
The flagship program of Elena's Light!
ESL is our one-on-one English as a second language tutoring program. It was purposefully designed with accessibility in mind: classes are 100% free to clients, offer flexible scheduling options, and are conveniently offered in the comfort of the client's home.
Our ESL curriculum is customizable based on each client's individual needs and goals. We focus on "practical" and "working" ESL skills, preparing clients to embrace their independence and feel comfortable navigating their new home communities. A unique focus of our program is CT DMV Driver's License Examination preparation, freeing clients from the constraints of unreliable public transport.
EL Health with Y-HEALAR
This program is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Blossom Hill Foundation and our community partner, Y-HEALAR.
EL Health is an interactive in-home health education program taught by licensed health professionals at the Yale-New Haven Health System. Our health education program focuses on addressing the many barriers to healthcare for refugee and immigrant populations. Our goals are to increase health literacy, encourage patient autonomy, and help clients practice good health behavior. Interpreters are provided to ensure client understanding of the teachings, and as always, classes are 100% free of charge.
Elena's Light
HEALTH
Elena's Light
LEGAL ADVOCACY
Following the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan 2021, Elena’s Light developed and intensified advocacy efforts in the legal realm to address the influx of refugees who desperately need assistance. In February 2022, we developed and hosted a Know Your Rights on Afghan Humanitarian Parole with local immigration lawyers and legal aid organizations, which was very successful with 100 attendees. Elena’s Light is hosting the second KYR session in August 2022 on immigration options for Afghans, including TPS, Asylum, SIV, and more. Lastly, Elena's Light is also leading the local initiative to develop a pro-bono committee to respond to the overwhelming need of lawyers to work on legal cases for the Afghan community during this crisis.
To watch a recording of our Know Your Rights presentation on Humanitarian Parole click here and to watch a recording of our Know Your Rights presentation on Immigration Options for Afghans click here.
Click the PDF to read our most recent report
Our Elena's Light Fellows are hard at work sewing fabric masks that will be available for purchase very shortly! All proceeds from mask purchases will support the work of Elena's Light and will be used to provide programming for refugee women and families in the community. We will also have an option to purchase and donate masks to members of the community. Please check back to our website for more information about the mask project coming soon!
Elena's Light
COVID-19 RESPONSE
Elena's Light
COMMUNITY
This program is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Blossom Hill Foundation.
At Elena's Light, we have always taken great pride in fostering the development of cross-cultural friendships between our clients and volunteers. Inspired by the meaningful relationships we have built over the years, Elena's Light decided to introduce a new community initiative. EL Community is dedicated to creating a safe space for cultural exchange, exploration, and immersion for refugee and immigrant children and families.
EL Child Wellness Program
The EL Child Wellness Program is a new program created specifically to address the needs of elementary and middle school children resettled from Afghanistan and Iraq in New Haven County, CT. A 2020 Summer Pilot program will inform the curriculum and format for year-round wellness initiatives supporting the social-emotional-cognitive wellbeing of this cohort of children. The program will incorporate evidence-based, culturally, and trauma-informed curricula and exercises.
