A Message From Our Co-Founder

Dear Cville Tulips Friends,

As we enter a festive season, we find ourselves reflecting with gratitude on all that this community has built together. Three years ago, Cville Tulips began as a small group of UVa faculty and students gathering with Afghan women living in hotels around the Charlottesville area. On a crisp spring day, sixty women and children and a half a dozen faculty and students from UVa gathered at a local park. While children played soccer and made pipe cleaner flowers, we asked a group of women what they wanted to learn. Their overwhelming response was “English and healthcare." They expressed a need for medical information for themselves and their families, as well as the language and literacy skills necessary to access it.

Since then, we have grown beyond our wildest expectations. We now gather every other week for English learning, health education, arts, sports, and socializing. We have served over 250 women and children this fall alone. Our initiatives have not only equipped women with vital language and cultural skills but have also transformed perceptions of Afghan and Syrian women within our broader community. The impact of our work extends beyond the classroom, as we witness mothers confidently introducing themselves to teachers and engaging in critical conversations about health and well-being with their families. These shifts in autonomy and confidence among the women we serve are evident, leading to increased self-esteem in our youth and improved social skills in younger learners.

We knew that this program would make tangible differences in the lives of our newest neighbors. We did not know how transformative it would be for our students. Many staff, volunteers, research assistants, and interns are themselves immigrants, refugees, and religious minorities who have faced challenges similar to those of the women in our program. This connection infuses their studies with meaning that transcends the academic classroom. One former UVA student and English teacher, now teaching abroad, reflected,

"What I experienced in the Cville Tulips classroom was hope…In our classroom, we asked, 'What are your goals?'—a question that many of my students and their teenage daughters would likely never have had the chance to explore back home due to war, political oppression, and poverty. Cville Tulips offers us an exceptional opportunity to forge human connections and amplify the voices of those who are rarely heard."

We are deeply moved by the support of many donors, including students, student groups, parents of students, doctors, and faculty associated with the program. While we have been honored to receive recognition as a Philanthropy Champion by the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and have received extensive internal grant support from the University of Virginia, we want to be transparent about the moment we are in. Institutional budgets, including at UVA, are tightening, putting additional pressure on programs like ours. Cville Tulips does not yet have a dedicated funding stream or institutional home, and we rely heavily on the generosity of our community to sustain this work.

If you are able, we warmly invite you to support Cville Tulips this season. Your generosity directly sustains English classes, health education, youth programming, transportation, and the community-building gatherings that mean so much to these women and their families. Together, we can continue creating spaces where women feel safe, supported, and empowered to shape their new lives in Charlottesville.

With gratitude,

Bonnie Gordon

English Classes

Women who regularly attend Cville Tulips continue to make incredible progress in their English skills. This fall, we had 50 active learners in our English classes, including 10 women who advanced to the next level. Their dedication and growth are a testament to their hard work — and to the supportive learning community they have built together.

Health Education Classes

Our Health Education team from the International Family Medicine Clinic led a series of sessions focused on women’s reproductive health. These sessions equipped women with practical tools, giving them confidence in navigating medical appointments and health decisions.

We are grateful for our interpreters, whose skill and dedication make both English and Health Education classes accessible to all of the women, especially those with lower-level English skills.

Youth Programming

Art projects continue to be a favorite among the kids, along with plenty of outdoor games and movement. Our amazing partner, Peabody School, provides sports equipment and access to an indoor gym and spacious outdoor areas where children can play, drum, and create. We are grateful for our volunteers who make these activities possible each week through their energy, creativity, and care. Throughout the fall, we have served 200 children, offering them a safe space to play and explore.

Did you know?

Most families rely on transportation from Albemarle County School District buses (and a few stellar volunteer drivers!) to attend our programs. Each week, we spend over $750 on bus rentals to safely bring approximately 80 participants (women and children) to our English, health, art, and youth programming. Your support keeps this vital service running.

Summer Highlights

This summer, we were grateful to secure gathering space at Mountain View Elementary School. The children loved exploring the giant play structures, while our youngest participants and the women appreciated the cool, air-conditioned classrooms. With the support of over 80 summer volunteers, we welcomed an average of 110 participants (women and children) each week.

We Are Grateful for…

Our Volunteers

Consisting of Charlottesville locals and many UVA undergraduate students, our 100+ volunteers dedicate their time and energy each week to support refugee families in our community. Our amazing volunteers help in a variety of ways, including helping with setup and cleanup, keeping kids engaged and safe, playing sports and creating art with children of all ages, caring for babies, assisting women during classes, serving food, and so much more. The dedication of each volunteer makes every gathering possible and creates a welcoming, joyful space for the entire community.

Our Partners

We would not be able to provide the services we do without the support of our fantastic partners, including those who offer meeting space free of charge (Peabody School, Mountain View Elementary School, and Fry’s Spring Beach Club), transportation for families (Albemarle County School District), and health education classes (UVA International Family Medicine Clinic). We also gratefully acknowledge the continued support from the Center for American English Language and Culture, the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Center for Community Partnerships, the Center for Global Inquiry and Innovation, UVA Arts, WTJU, the International Rescue Committee, Blue Ridge Health District, Charlottesville Public Schools, as well as our generous recurring donors whose ongoing contributions sustain our programs year-round.

Thank you for helping Afghan families thrive in Charlottesville.

By making a one-time or recurring gift this season, you help keep our community strong by supporting English classes, health education, youth programs, and transportation for families.