Supporting the Community Based Academic English Program

Our Mission

Our program, hosted at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College Clarkston campus, takes pride in serving one of the largest immigrant and refugee communities in the nation. By bringing affordable and flexible academic English courses to the Greater Atlanta area, we work to equip our students with academic English skills that can empower them in furthering their educational and professional opportunities.

Our Students

The Community Based Academic English Program (CBAEP) boasts an incredibly diverse student body where we’re connected by our belief in the power of gaining English language proficiency! The unique backgrounds of our students means access to resources inside and outside the classroom are extremely important. Each semester, funding from donors and our partnerships with local organizations help us in providing free tutoring, technology training, conversation clubs, community-building activities, and academic advising.

• 100+ students applied for the CBAEP Summer 2023 semester
• Less than 2 years: the average amount of time our students have been in the U.S.
• 57% of students are from Afghanistan 

The Program

• 14-week courses
• Morning & evening classes
• Small class sizes
• Oral communication, academic reading & academic writing courses
• 5 course levels

Supporting Our Program

We prioritize removing financial barriers that keep students from gaining English proficiency. Each semester, scholarships funded by donors like you help us waive fees for students and cut class costs.

$25 helps a student cover the cost of books and other learning materials

$75 covers a course fee for one scholarship-eligible student

$250 covers a course fee for one student

$1000 sponsors a full-time CBAEP student for one semester

I'm 31 years old and I have been living in Georgia for about 2 years. I'm originally from Afghanistan and I was resettled here (as a refugee) in 2021. I live with my wife and daughter in Clarkston, GA.

I studied Political Science at a university in Afghanistan and worked for four years at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as an Administrative Clerk and translator. I also worked with the U.S. military. Now I am working with Southern Wall Produce company so I can support my family here and send money to my parents who are still in Afghanistan.

I'm hoping to pursue a career in Computer Science here in the United States. I joined this program to learn English so I can continue my education, but also make a better life for my family and for my daughter. I would like to have my own business one day.

One of the great things about the program is that we have a scholarship. Without that maybe I wouldn’t be able to study the English language!

Your gift to this project will be processed by the Georgia State University Foundation and through the IEP Community Scholars Fund will provide operating support for the Community Based Academic English Program.