Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum time commitment to volunteer?
We ask that all volunteers commit to staying in the program for at least 1 year.
How old do you have to be to volunteer with IHELP?
Teachers and students must be at least 18 years of age to be enrolled in the program.
Are all of your students citizens or studying for citizenship?
No. We do not ask about a student’s status other than if Citizenship is a goal for them. If they are eligible to take their U.S. Citizenship exam, we have a course of study that students can pursue with us when the time is right.
How long does it take for a student to graduate the program?
Every student has different starting points and goals, and therefore there is no set amount of time to “graduate” from our program. Students stay in the program from approximately 6 months to 5 years. Students enter the program on a rolling time frame.
Can I teach multiple students?
This is not something we encourage, but we are open to it if the teacher can meet with the students during separate times (unless they are members of the same household).
What are your sources of funding?
We receive our funding from grants, individual donors, and fundraising events. We are not government (state or federally) funded.
What qualifies someone to be a student with IHELP?
IHELP’s Adult Program is for any adult immigrant or refugee community member who can not attend regular English classes in the community. This could be due to lack of childcare, lack of transportation, job schedule, etc. The Youth Program is for English learners in grades Pre-K through 5th.
Do you serve students in Illinois?
At this time we are only able to serve students on the Missouri side of the river, but welcome teachers from Illinois if they live within a reasonable distance to a St. Louis-area student.