Study Buddy
Little Neighbors
English as a New Language (ENL)
Study Buddy
Virtual tutoring and educational support for English language learners in middle and high school throughout the City of Pittsburgh.
Since Study Buddy’s start in 2020, we’ve had over 165 students receive more than 3,000 hours of tutoring per semester.
Since 2020, Hello Neighbor has been supporting refugee and immigrant youth in school districts across Allegheny County to navigate the United States education system through personalized online one-on-one tutoring. Current students, recent graduates, and young professionals are matched with refugee and immigrant students in grades 6-12 to help them navigate their academic work and their relationships with peers and school staff. Volunteer tutors help students with school work, provide subject-specific learning, set up tangible semester-specific goals, increase their confidence in the classroom, and develop their English language and interpersonal skills.
Each semester, the Study Buddy program welcomes guest speakers from local partners, provides students with training relevant to academic development, and in-person events aimed at team building.
The core commitment is by semester (Fall, Spring) and 1-3 virtual hours of tutoring per week.
Interested in becoming a tutor or a Study Buddy student?
Our Study Buddy program runs on an academic calendar, with Fall and Spring semesters. We are always accepting new tutor applications. However, most enrollments will be completed during the summer and winter breaks.
Little Neighbors
Play-based learning and community connection for refugee and immigrant families with young children across the Pittsburgh area.
Little Neighbors supports refugee and immigrant families with children from birth until they begin school through play-based early childhood programming focused on learning, connection, and community. Hosted in partnership with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the program introduces families to neighborhood libraries while creating welcoming spaces where caregivers and children can learn and grow together.
Each Little Neighbors cohort meets five times at a local library branch for storytimes, sensory play, music, crafts, and library orientations designed to support early literacy, school readiness, and language development in a joyful, low-pressure environment. A sixth gathering brings families together for a special community event, such as a museum visit or seasonal celebration.
The program is designed to reduce social isolation for immigrant caregivers of young children, encourage families to fully utilize public library resources in their neighborhoods, and help library staff feel more confident serving immigrant and refugee communities. Through culturally responsive programming and trusted community relationships, Little Neighbors helps families navigate language, cultural, and systemic barriers while building lasting connections.
English as a New Language (ENL)
Our ENL classes help newcomers gain independence and navigate their new world.
English language is a critical skill for new neighbors learning to navigate life in Pittsburgh. Through group classes and family tutoring, students learn to express their needs, ask and answer basic questions, and talk about their families, homes, health, and work. We work in partnership with Literacy Pittsburgh to ensure that students are receiving high quality instruction.
Classes are free and open to refugees and immigrants 18+ years old.
Our Levels:
- A1 - Literacy 1
- A2 - Literacy 2
- B1 - Beginner Low 1
- B2 - Beginner Low 2
- L1.1 - Beginner Mid 1
- L1.2 - Beginner Mid 2
Current Classes:
Our Fall semester runs from September 14, 2026 through December 19, 2026.
- A1: Mon/Wed 12-2pm
- L1.1: Wed/Fri 9-11am
- L1.2: Tues/Thurs 10-11:30 am
For those unable to attend classes, in-home family tutoring may be available.
What We Do:
“Giant Eagle, everywhere, I am trying to talk to people everywhere and English classes helps me a lot. I try to use everything I learn in the class” - English Student
Before and after enrollment, clients take a language assessment through Literacy Pittsburgh.
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Classes include field trips to practice language in real-world settings. Here we are learning at the supermarket!