About Us

The Refugee English Forum Service (RefServe) offers flexible conversational support to intermediate and advanced adult refugee English learners while linking them to existing higher education resources. As our volunteer base is comprised of English language education experts and Arizona State University (ASU) students, we believe we are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between refugees’ educational needs and available English language programs. We aim to adapt English language services in Arizona to better support refugee learners by working around learners’ schedules; facilitating learners’ exposure to everyday English; and connecting service providers and academic institutions to deploy existing English resources and inspire learners’ pursuit of higher education.

Founded in 2021 by a former Lutheran Social Services caseworker and three Refugee Integration, Stability, and Education (RISE) tutors, RefServe began as a one-student organization that sought to offer individualized services to refugees in the Valley. Under the guidance and support of the American Muslim Women’s Association (AMWA) and Arizona State University, RefServe has since grown to provide free English support to over 30 students. Here at RefServe, we love what we do, and we are very much looking forward to what the future holds!