We acknowledge that Parent involvement in education is crucial. No matter their income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to have higher grades and test scores, attend school regularly, have better social skills, show improved behaviour, and adapt well to school.

When families and community members are involved in student learning, students improve their academic performance and gain advocates that promote their success, helping them feel more confident at school.

Parents receive first-hand information explained in Somali language. Over the last few weeks, we have seen more parents register their children to our homework club program. This means that there is a high demand of this kinds of programs within the community.

The sharp increase is due in part to the hard work of our amazing coordinator, staff members and volunteers to inform and explain all the components of the program in parent’s native languages. Also giving weekly updates on what is to be done in the upcoming sessions to ensure each parent has a clear view of the sequence of activities that are done at the homework club. This gives parents a chance to suggest or advise us on the changes they like to see in the program. Staff usually get in touch with parents through a phone conversation on the weekend or at the end of the session when children are due for collection.

Some parents had the confidence to tell us how this program is starting to have an effect in their child’s academic performance. Some of the students in this program have had a gap year when their parents moved to overseas. Therefore, this program has been and continues to provide the ‘catch up’ lessons and additional tutoring students need specially in math and readings.

The program indirectly benefits parents as it provides social opportunities for making friendships and where families and community could meet, engage and learn from each other. At the homework club, Parent to parent relationships is beginning to take shape as we see an increased care for each other. In their absence, some parents allow other parents collect their children on their behalf. In these situations, however, we call the parent of the child to provide us with their consent to allow the child to leave the school premises with the volunteering parent.