Home | Bridge4Students

We help U.S. based international students from countries
impacted by war through scholarships, mentorship and
connections to job opportunities

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volunteer to help students

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I am a student or a refugee looking for financial help, internships or advice

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Our Mission

Provide international talent from countries disrupted and troubled by geopolitical crises, wars and natural disasters with opportunities to continue quality education in the US and become leaders, innovators, and guardians of a brighter and more peaceful future.

Focus to Date: Ukrainian students, but open to all students disrupted by conflict.

Support provided based on Need and Merit.

There are ~2,000 Ukrainian International Students

(high school, undergrad & graduate) studying in the U.S.

~100,000 Ukrainian Refugees are being given temporary status in the U.S.
Out of them, estimated ~8,000 prospective students who are of high-school / college age. They will need to be oriented and placed into U.S. schools and colleges

Their lives and educational plans have been disrupted by war...

We can help them get their sense of security back!

Students in Need Can Receive:

Scholarships

Our Scholarships: We provide two types of scholarships for students to help with their studies. The first is "Bridge Grant" award which is emergency funding that allows students to cover expenses that school or parents cannot cover. To qualify students need to demonstrate urgent financial need that has been caused by the current crisis. The second is a Merit Based Scholarship that will help to cover a portion of school tuition for qualified students who have demonstrated academic potential and achievement.

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Mentorship

We provide mentors who can help: 1) current students to get oriented and networked in their chosen carriers; 2) demystify the US school and university system and application process and help create the best educational path forward for the future students refugees.

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Internship / Job Connections

We help students network and find paid work or internships. Please signup to get access to those resources.

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Student Resouces

Ways to Help

As a volunteer or donor you can get involved and help make a difference in the lives of students in need.

Make a Donation

By making a donation you help students who are in need and are pursuing their studies in the U.S.

Donate to Students

Mentor Students

Volunteer to help current or future students navigate educational and/or professional landscapes and get to their destination more effectively. Work directly with a student to feel the impact!

Get Involved

Hire Students

Offer a summer internship position, a 'gig' (e.g., translation, analysis, research) or an on-going part-time engagement. Every hour of work helps students support themselves!

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Donor Get Involed

Our Results to Date

Since our inception in April 2022, our team has been working tirelessly to help identify students in need, understand their needs and match them with opportunities that would enable them to reinstate their security and continue their education.

We are proud, that with the help of our sponsors and partners, we have been able to help many students and lay the BRIDGE for them into the future they planned for during the difficult time. We have provided:

70+
Merit Scholarships

granted to the most hard working students who exhibit high potential based on their accomplishments and vision to make the world a better place after their graduation. The scholarship grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on merit and need and covered urgent tuition payments for fall 2022 semester.

30+
Emergency Grants

covering emergency educational expenses such as room & board, books, uniform, urgent fees that students could not cover due to disruption of their financial sources. The grants ranged from $200 to $1,000 depending on the need and urgency.

400+
Mentoring Hours

covering different types of needs and questions – from psychological support, legal support, business networking, educational counseling and just simple friendly conversations to provide personal advice.

20+
Jobs/Internships

placements made through Bridge4Students connections and those of their partners and sponsors. Five students were employed by Bridge4Students as summer interns

+ Other Help

such as access to unique training resources (Wall Street Prep license, Consulting & Finance Training resources through our partners), database of other scholarship opportunities, facilitating connection with schools and other organizations

300+ Students studying at US universities have applied for B4S support

University of California, Los Angeles

University of South Carolina

University of Miami

Lehigh University

University of Kansas

Georgetown University

Pierce College

University of Central Florida

Minerva University

Colorado State University

Texas A&M University

Southern States University

New York University

Western Michigan University

The University of Toledo

University of Texas Austin

Amherst College

Bennington College

University of Iowa

University of Massachusetts

Carleton College

Livingston High School, TX

University of Kansas

University of California, Los Angeles

University of South Carolina

University of Miami

Lehigh University

University of Kansas

Georgetown University

Pierce College

University of Central Florida

Minerva University

Colorado State University

Texas A&M University

Southern States University

New York University

From Students We Helped

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Bridge4Students gave us useful contacts and connected
with wonderful people who are ready to help us arrange a new life. It is very pleasant to realize that your fate is not indifferent to other people!

Ukrainian Refugee
with a Daughter, Senior in High School

Read Student Gratitude Statements

FAQs

1 How are we structured and how we operate?

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit. We have very minimum overhead – all of our leadership and core team contribute their time and skills on a completely voluntary basis. Our admin costs only cover our yearly tax return and salaries to student-interns (also a form of support).

2 How do we connect with students?

We are highlighting Bridge4Students on social media channels and working with our partners to spread the word to universities. Most of our students found out about us through their universities or word of mouth.

3 How do we distribute funds / what is the process for granting SCHOLARSHIPS?

We will offer two types of grants. The Emergency Bridge Grant that would help students in excruciating circumstances to get by until they settle and find a job. We also provide Tuition, Room & Board Scholarships to talented students based on merit. All students receiving funds are validated using a pre-determined criteria (need based and/or merit based) - they have to fill out an extensive application form and hold an interview with a Bridge4Students representative. All applications and candidates are thoroughly vetted and evaluated by Bridge4Students leadership panel to define eligibility and grant amount. We also confirm eligibility of each student with their respective university. Funds go directly to students' university accounts to ensure that are applied towards Tuition, Room & Board expenses.

4 What kind of MENTORSHIP services do we provide?

Mentorship services will be slightly different for current international students and future students (children of refugees). Current international students from other countries often do not have a good network to help them navigate complicated career paths. We try to speak with them and provide initial advice and can also match them with mentors from various career fields based on their interest and help them position themselves better for those fields. Future students (children of recent refugees) are new to the country and have very vague idea how education works in the US. We will offer initial advice to them and then offer matching them to mentors who could help them navigate through the educational system in the US and define best path forward.

5 What kind of JOB matching do we provide?

We are networking with various corporations and are matching students either with summer jobs in their professional fields or with youth summer camp positions – both will help them get paid during the summer and get relevant experience

6 Can students work legally in the US?

Most current international students are in the US on F1/F2 visa that allows them to work over the summer in internships (CPT = Curricular Practical Training) and for anywhere from 1 to 3 years after graduation (OPT - Occupational Practical Training). So any job that they are offered needs to be defined as an internship in their field of study. Student-refugees (i.e., students from Ukraine or Afghanistan who plan to stay in the US) can also have their Temporary Protective Status that will allow them to work legally in the United States.

7 How many students are we working with?

Since our inception in April 2022, with your support: ✅ We’ve helped 250 students with mentorship, job connections, and scholarships ✅ Awarded over 100 merit-based scholarships and bridge grants, ensuring students can continue their studies without interruption ✅ Launched partnerships with organizations to offer internships and professional experience

Q&A

Donation

Help us do more

By donating to students or getting involved, you can help make a huge difference in the lives of those in need. Bridge4Students is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization, and your gift is tax-deductible.

Hire students

Mentor students

Read Student Gratitude Statements