Eritrean Community School

Eritrean Community School was established in 1986 about the same time with the establishment of ECCM. The school being an integral part of ECCM based its focus primarily on challenging cultural confusion and adaptation of strange cultural phenomenon within our children.

As language grows culture also evolves tremendously, but in the case of Eritreans living in Minnesota the reality was different. Being detached from home (Eritrea) or from your own society and trying to raise children where no body knows your name was a serious challenge to keep the culture alive and be able to pass it on to the next generation. To abolish the possible identity crises within our children and to keep the unity and integrity of our culture, apprehensive Eritreans and parents in Minnesota diligently volunteered to gather and teach Eritrean children.

The school began teaching over one hundred students at the initial school year and between 50-100 students thereafter every year for the past 15 years. The school accepts children five years of age and older. Ever since the inception of our community's school, about one hundred students had finished their native school curriculum successfully every year. At the end of their graduation, students were able to speak, write and read their native language fluently. ECCM is thankful and the credit goes to the unstinting parents and volunteers.
The Eritrean community school in Minnesota has an academic year from September to June, and a long vacation from June to August afterwards. The school adjourns on June in a highly celebrated picnic style school-closing event and it has been the school's tradition that, students, teachers and parents enjoy an excursion once every year.