About Us
The Wichita Indochinese Center, Inc. (WIC) was founded in 1985 as a non-profit corporation
to assist refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. These three countries collectively are
called Indochina. The resettlement process of refugees involves many stages, including learning
English, economic adjustment, social adaptation and cultural transition.
Later WIC served refugees from other countries such as Iraq, Russia, Bosnia, and Somalia as well.
At present WIC is the only organization comprehensively serving the refugee community of Wichita.
However, now the incoming refugee population is almost insignificant. The present student body of
WIC is immigrants who attend WIC to learn English and other skills.
WIC’s services are available for all races and not just for Indochinese, except translation
and transportation service.
WIC is a 501(c)(3) Kansas corporation. The following are the present functions of the Wichita
Indochinese Center, Inc.
Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), problem solving, team work, job ethics,
interview skills, and all other “soft skills” to immigrants and welfare dependent refugees.
WIC will also try to find jobs for it’s students if they are unemployed and help them to
retain their job or move to better paying jobs.
Conduct citizenship classes and train immigrants for citizenship test.
Provide translation and transportation assistance for Asian seniors (This is
the only program exclusively for Asians).
Rehabilitate old houses and rent them at affordable rents for low income families
and build houses for home ownership.
Summer youth employment program
Provide translation services for many agencies and individuals
WIC has Vietnamese and Laotian caseworker on it’s staff and enjoys a high degree
of trust and confidence of this population.
WIC enjoys a sterling reputation among the local elected officials and the City staff
as an excellent service provider.
WIC has the experience in operating grants, producing results and maintaining financial accountability.
It is audited each year by an independent auditor and has good bookkeeping system.
Notable Accomplishments of the Wichita Indochinese Center, Inc.,:
Since 1992, when the present director was appointed, WIC has expanded its activities
and increased its scope of services.
A Community Development Block Grant in 1994 helped WIC to move its operations into a
larger facility and expand it’s services and more adequately serve families.
Adult Basic Education grant from the State Board of Education since 1994 is enabling to
provide English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to any one who wants to learn English
to function effectively in society and the workplace. Now this program is administered
by the Kansas Board of Regents.
A Sedgwick County Department of Aging grant is helping WIC to serve elderly Asian population.
WIC has been designated by the City of Wichita and the State of Kansas as a Community Housing
Development Organization (CHoDO). By this designation WIC is eligible to apply for Federal Department
of Housing and Urban Development grants through the City and State to develop affordable
housing for low income families.
A one time grant in 1995 from Kansas Juvinile Justice Authority enabled WIC to offer life skills
and job training to at risk youth. Several youth have been successfully rehabilitated through this
program.
WIC’s collaboration with the Child Care Association of Wichita helped to establish a Head
Start program in this center. (In 1999they moved to another location and
another child care center has been started).
In April 2000, WIC was one of the 200 sites in the country to be designated as
a Power Up site. The Power Up set up a computer lab with 10 computers and AOL connection to bridge
the digital divide. Since then this lab has been upgraded and is being used to teach
English to WIC’s students.