EMPOWERING FUTURES
Student Association for Migrant Education
OUR MISSION
SAME is a youth nonprofit dedicated to eliminating barriers to education for refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented students. SAME seeks to pioneer nuanced solutions that reflect the multifaceted nature of the barriers migrants face.
The Problem
Massachusetts schools have taken in thousands of migrant students in recent years. Statistics show that those students are not meeting standards for English proficiency, with fewer than 30% meeting their initial targets. Newcomers had a graduation rate of just 63% in 2023 and declining, sub-50% college acceptance rates.
Our Solutions
One of the major challenges to alleviating the issue of migrants’ barriers to education is how multifaceted it is. Not only are migrants financially constrained and lack qualifications for most grants and scholarships, but many also face language barriers. Most migrants also face significant mental and social barriers. Insecurity about their legal status leads many migrants to abandon the thought of higher education altogether and lack adequate support throughout the high school and college application process.
Financial
To reduce the financial barriers to education, SAME seeks primarily to address the hidden costs of a free education. Namely, the cost of school supplies, lost family income, and sports fees/club dues. For our initial pilot, SAME seeks to fundraise school supplies for students to be assembled and distributed through backpacks. Secondary goals include scholarships and grants at various tiers to cover more of the above hidden costs.
Social Support
To provide social support for migrant students, SAME will create a town-wide affinity group at the Brookline Teen Center with the intention to expand to school or other town chapters. Students can find support within each other, and graduates will form an extensive alumni network that can provide support for students seeking assistance in college applications. This affinity group can also act as the labor center for financial fundraisers and activities.
Our Partners
SAME is partnered with the International Institute of New England (Lowell), the Refugee and Immigrant Action Center, and St. Mark Community Education Program to ensure that our supplies go to the people who need them most. SAME is fiscally sponsored by the Hack Club Bank.
Donate to SAME
SAME is currently raising money to fund our hidden costs grant. Migrant students often need to work outside of school to help provide for their families. That means less time to study and falling grades. The grant will help keep kids in school by paying them the wage they would usually earn by working.