Grantee Highlight – GirlForward
Written 9/24 for a FY24 Grantee
College Prep for GirlForward
GirlForward, Chicago, Illinois
“We are so thankful for ACT’s support this past year. Thanks to your generous gift, we could purchase test prep materials and technology like graphing calculators for our young people to prepare them for the next step in their journey. Our Education Team also prioritized an ACT prep course for juniors this year — a course we last offered in 2019 due to the pandemic. As you can imagine, language access is the most challenging aspect of taking the ACT for English Language Learners and newcomer refugee youth like those that we serve. Still, your support helped reduce barriers for newcomer refugee girls in our community.” ~ Ashley Marine, Former Executive Director
GirlForward is a community of support dedicated to creating and enhancing opportunities for girls who have been displaced globally by conflict and persecution. GirlForward supports girls in grades 9-12 who are refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers through three core programs: Mentoring, Tutoring, and Safe Spaces.
The world is in the midst of the biggest refugee crisis the world has ever seen. Over 70 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes. In conflict, girls are especially vulnerable to violence, Isolation, and being kept out of school. Girls who receive resettlement in the United States face huge challenges: poverty, language barrier, limited or disrupted education, isolation, and trauma. GirlForward seeks to reduce these barriers and help girls succeed in their new home and through education.