In Lansing Michigan, they have just started an English as a Second Language class. The city has had an influx of refugees from Bhutan. They have been in refugee camps for 17 years after being forced out of Bhutan by the government as a kind of ethnic cleansing. In the last year and a half the UN has been placing them in 4 countries–one being the U.S. They were not given a choice of where to live–just told where they would be placed. Many of them are 40 years and older, many in that age group having little to no English skills or understanding of American culture (much less midwestern…). The ESL class has been primarily targeting this older age group, though each week they also serve children, teens and twenty-somethings as well.

The people of Lansing Central Free Methodist Church are continually brainstorming ways to help with language acquisition in very practical, daily life matters. They have been working on measuring and counting words and concepts and thought it would be great to have them actually do a project where they have to use those words to build something.  They’re to have the men build one step stool per family. They thought this would also serve a practical need as the men and women tend to be shorter and would probably find a step stool very helpful. So far Beth Poole, the lady who runs the class has been purchasing all the supplies out of pocket, because there is no budget for this project.  Gift Card Giver is excited to be able to help her help these refugees in Michigan!