Essential Skills
Essential Skills Programs
Essential Skills programs provide skill-building resources paired with the opportunity to socialize and build community connections for refugees, seniors, and other community members experiencing social and economic isolation. Essentials First staff and volunteers also utilize these connections to help community members navigate local community resources and assist in cultural orientation.
Questions? Please contact Essentials First Programs and Operations Manager Marryam Ali at marryamali@essentialsfirst.org.
WANTED: New and gently used sewing machines!
Sewing machines are needed to accommodate the growing number of students in the EF Essential Skills program.
Essential Skills programs provide skill-building and build community connections for refugees, seniors, and other community members experiencing social isolation.
New and gently used sewing machines can be delivered or dropped off to EF Kent, or purchased and delivered using our Amazon Wish List.
Past Essential Skills programming
Our new Essential Skills Program launched in early 2025 with a series of sewing classes tailored to refugee women. Students led by a volunteer instructor met to learn new skills and connect with community.