The Vietnamese Friendship Association assists Vietnamese immigrants and refugees adapt to life in the US and become productive, engaged citizens while still retaining their cultural and ethnic identities.

Description:
Since 2004, VFA has focused primarily on ensuring Vietnamese school-age children and youth (especially in the Rainier Valley area) receive quality education to succeed in life by operating an after-school program. The program provides a healthy environment during after-school hours where school-age children and youth receive academic support and opportunities for involvement in cultural enrichment activities, works with Seattle public schools to provide adequate support to Vietnamese parents and students and helps parents get the support they need to nurture and guide their children to their greatest potential. We directly serve about 300 clients, and over 1200 more in indirect services such as cultural performances and information workshops. Our Summer Youth Program has been widely hailed by New Holly Learning Center, Seattle Public Schools’ Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center, and by parents and students. Currently our after-school program serves over 30 students, and the Saturday Morning Language and Culture Program (located at Aki Kurose Middle School) has over 140 students and parents in attendance weekly.

History:
VFA was formed in the early 1980s to respond to short-term resettlement needs facing Vietnamese refugees who chose to resettle in Seattle. These resettlement needs included translation services, finding housing, learning English, finding employment, and accessing programs for low-income families such as transitional assistance, healthcare, and senior services. VFA achieved its mission of helping Vietnamese refugees to resettle by providing information and referral, housing, ESL classes, job placement, interpretation and translation service, and access to programs for low-income families.

Contact people:

Vu Le, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email) James Lovell, Assistant Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

4714 Rainier Ave S., Suite 108 Seattle, WA 98118 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

Our programs are actually located at New Holly Learning Center, which is located at 7058 32nd Ave S., Seattle WA 98118. It is on Othello Street (which becomes Myrtle Street), between MLK and Beacon Ave.   Nearest Bus Stop: 32nd Ave S & S. Myrtle St., 1 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	No
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	Yes
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes