Achillea Peer Tutoring

Achillea is a peer tutoring organization based in Hunter College High School in NYC. Working closely with foster care agencies and nonprofits, we strive to help kids in foster care across the country overcome adversity and enjoy their learning experience. 

Our model is built on one-on-one peer oriented relationships to ensure that each student feels their voice is heard. Kids who are in foster care, have been discharged, or are receiving preventative services, can sign up to be matched with a dedicated high school tutor. We are open to helping students with all school subjects. 

Every single child deserves access to an excellent education — it’s the pathway to success. Achillea affords foster kids this opportunity. 

Our Central Pillars are:

• Empathy
• Bringing together students and tutors of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, we cultivate meaningful relationships based on empathy and understanding. We recognize the challenges posed by learning in the face of adversity, and our tutors are trained to enforce trauma-informed principles in their teaching. Our tutors are also provided an extensive overview of the foster care experience to better understand their students' backgrounds.
• Trust
• The foundation of student-tutor relationships is based on mutual trust and understanding. Our goal is to empower students through peer dynamics to help build long-lasting friendships that go beyond tutoring sessions. Above all, we aim to create a safe space where students feel that their voices are being heard.
• Perseverance
• There is no one key to success; learning is a dynamic process that lasts through a lifetime and is cultivated through perseverance. At Achillea, we transform obstacles into opportunities for growth. We encourage students to strive, challenge, and overcome the boundaries of their capabilities.
• Justice
• Achillea recognizes the invaluable impact of student activism; we are run by students, for students. Our tutors embody the mentality that education is not a luxury, but a human right. Every youth is unique, and they are entitled to a free, high-quality education that caters to their individual needs. We understand the impact of trauma on our students’ learning and daily lives, so we emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing each of their unique strengths and challenges.