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Welcome to
Tusome
Pamoja
Welcome to
Tusome
Pamoja
Educational nonprofit serving immigrant families in Richmond, Virginia
Helping Children Learn, Grow, and Belong
Tusome Pamoja provides tutoring and educational support for children who are learning English and adjusting to school in the United States.
Through relationship-based learning and community support, we help students build skills, confidence, and connection—so they can thrive in and beyond the classroom.
Mission
Tusome Pamoja’s mission is to match English language learners with trained teen peer mentors and adult volunteers to provide individualized, literacy-focused instruction in a safe, supportive, and relationship-driven environment.
What We Do
We support children and families through educational programs designed to complement public school learning—not replace it.
Our work focuses on:
Tutoring and academic support
English language development
Helping students adapt to school expectations and classroom learning
Supporting families as they navigate educational systems
We meet students where they are and provide consistent, encouraging support to help them succeed.
How the Program Works
Tusome Pamoja provides individualized learning programs for each student, with all instruction grounded in literacy development regardless of subject area.
Students are matched one-on-one with a teen peer mentor or adult volunteer who supports reading, writing, conversation, and academic skill-building.
Our program is intentionally analog and screen-free, creating space for students to engage fully with their mentors, peers, and materials.
Hear directly from Sidhartha Basu, one of our co-founders, about why Tusome Pamoja exists, who we serve, and how our programs support students and families.
Who We Serve
Tusome Pamoja serves English language learners who face significant barriers to literacy and formal education.
Students served include:
Students with a formal SLIFE designation
Students arriving in the U.S. with little or no formal education
English language learners with significant interruptions in schooling
English language learners with large gaps in literacy
Students from households where adults are pre-literate or where no adult English speakers are present
Community & Mentorship
The heart of Tusome Pamoja is its teen peer mentor model. The success of the program depends on the passion, commitment, and preparation of teen volunteers.
Over nearly six years, more than 100 teen peer mentors have participated in Tusome Pamoja, many returning for multiple seasons. These teens represent over 15 high schools across the greater Richmond area.
Teen mentors take on meaningful responsibility, building leadership skills while forming strong, supportive relationships with younger students.
Impact Snapshot
Through tutoring and educational support
From diverse cultural backgrounds
Supporting students and families
Tusome Pamoja measures success through both quantitative metrics and qualitative outcomes.
Students and volunteers return season after season, and many high school mentors continue to serve well beyond required volunteer hours—often returning during college breaks to rejoin the community.
Our Message
At Tusome Pamoja, we believe learning is a shared journey.
When children feel supported, understood, and encouraged, they are better able to learn—not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well. Our work is rooted in relationships, trust, and the joy of learning together.
We are committed to creating spaces where students feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, and grow, surrounded by adults and volunteers who care deeply about their success.
Vision
Tusome Pamoja believes that literacy flourishes in the context of relationships, dignity, and belonging. By investing in students, empowering teen leaders, and engaging the wider community, Tusome Pamoja creates a learning environment where growth is shared, sustainable, and deeply human.
Get Involved
There are many ways to support Tusome Pamoja and help expand access to tutoring and educational support for students and families.
Whether you choose to volunteer your time or make a financial contribution, your involvement helps strengthen our programs and our community.
Over $10,000 Raised to Support Students and Families
Thanks to the generosity of donors and community partners, Tusome Pamoja has raised more than $10,000 to support tutoring, learning resources, and family support programs.
Your contribution helps create consistent, meaningful opportunities for children who are adjusting to life in the United States.
You Can Change a Life Today
Your support helps us provide safe housing, personalized care, and meaningful experiences for boys with developmental disabilities and trauma. Every donation brings comfort, joy, and a step closer to healing. Together, we can give each child a brighter, more hopeful future.
Richmond, Virginia
10721 Warren Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060
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