The Hispanic Family Night Programs (HFN) send volunteers to a local elementary school to work with migrant families from Albemarle County and the surrounding area. Volunteers will work with kids or adults, depending on their preference. Two Migrant Education teachers are present for guidance, materials and teaching advice. Migrant families are families that have been identified by Albemarle Regional Migrant Education as migrants who have arrived within the past three years and who are currently working or have previously worked in agriculture. Generally, migrant families come from Mexico or Guatemala. For more information about the migrant community, please see "Who We Serve."

All tutoring takes place in a group setting in the school cafeteria or other available classrooms. The majority of HFN volunteers will work one-on-one with kids on their homework and basic or academic English skills. Often, migrant children are a grade-level behind their peers because of the difficulty of acquiring academic English and/or disruptions in their school attendance. Students often need help with learning academic terms, concepts, applications and general studying skills. Volunteers are also able to offer a support system for these children that would otherwise not be available, often due to their parents' lack of English skills or demanding work schedules. Volunteers will help students with homework assignments and review work that was done in the classroom, ensuring that the student has understood all of their work. Volunteers will also provide supplemental activities that improve students' general academic and English skills, which include playing fun and educational games. In addition to the presence and availability of a Migrant Education teacher, volunteers will have weekly communication with a Migrant Education contact person who will guide their tutoring experience and answer questions, concerns, etc. Above all, the positive encouragement of UVA students at HFN/IFN helps to improve social and academic confidence amongst migrant students.

The rest of the volunteers will work with the parents. If a volunteer has a preference of working with adults or children, this can be expressed at the first session. Volunteers will work with adults on Basic English or other learning goals, such as studying for the citizenship test. Volunteers will usually work one-on-one with the adults. For many parents in migrant families, this is the only exposure to English that they experience throughout their week. Since many of our families work in agriculture, they often work with other Spanish-Speakers or in an isolated environment. Learning English is a key component for a family's success and happiness in Central Virginia. HFN and IFN provide great opportuniies to advance this goal.

Who can volunteer?

Any UVA student!! No Spanish is required. Most of the kids are fluent in spoken English. Many adults are beginning English students and although some Spanish knowledge is useful, some of our best tutors have not spoken a word of Spanish! Just sign up at Madison House during the first two weeks of classes. Please see "Get Involved." Note: A training session is required for all volunteers before they can begin tutoring.

When do volunteers go out?

The program requires a 3-hour commitment one day a week for the course of one semester. Hispanic Family Night is usually Tuesday or Thursday night from 6-9pm, but check at the Madison House for the most current times. International Family Night is usually Thursday night from 6-9pm. Carpools will be arranged by the Program Directors. If you are a driver, we will compensate you for gas.