Mission Statement
The mission of Wichita Indochinese Center, Inc., is to teach skills and provide services (English as a Second Language, Workforce Development, and Youth Services) to immigrants and refugees so that these individuals will become self supporting and contributing members of the Wichita community.
WHO WE ARE
The Wichita Indochinese Center, Inc. (WIC), a non-profit 501©(3) Kansas corporation, was founded in 1985 to serve refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. These three countries are collectively called Indochina. WIC was formed to teach English to these refugees and to help them become productive citizens. Later, WIC helped refugees from Somalia, Bosnia, Iraq etc. Since 1995 WIC has opened its English and civics classes to any adult, not just refugees, whose first language is not English.
Wichita Indochinese Center Milestones
Number of lab computers more than doubled, to accomodate large classes or multiple classes at once.
Partnered with Butler County Community College
Concentrating on its English as a Second Language program.
1994 WIC was one of the 200 sites in the country to be designated as a Power Up site with a computer lab with 10 computers and AOL connection. Update: The lab has been upgraded and is being used to teach English.
The City of Wichita gave a grant to WIC to help administer the Summer Youth Employment Program. Results: WIC established a collaboration of seven grass root community organizations to help hire 200 youth from low-income families each summer. Youth learned skills from working in the real world and received financial management training.
Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority gave a one-time grant to assist WIC in offering life skills and job training to at risk youth.
Community Development Block Grant helped WIC to move its operations to a larger facility and expand its services to more adequately serve families.
Adult Basic Education grant from the State Board of Education started helping to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) class to anyone who wants to learn English to better their skills in society and workplace. The Kansas Board of Regents now administers this program.
WIC expanded its activities and increased the scope of services.
Wichita Indochinese Center, Inc. was founded as a non-profit corporation to assist refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
