Small World is a private program whose mission is to teach English to international women. The program is run by women volunteers. It provides a fun, comfortable environment in which women from countries all around the world can improve their English; learn about American culture and the local community; and socialize with other women from diverse backgrounds. Many of our students form lasting friendships.
The First Presbyterian Church (FPC) has graciously hosted our program since its inception in 1968, however we are not affiliated with FPC or any other faith group.
News
Small World Lawrence extends heartfelt thanks to the Altrusa Club of Lawrence, which donated $1,000 in March 2024 to support the program’s international literacy needs. This gift will be used to buy textbooks and educational materials for all Small World classrooms. In the photo below, Chris Heider (left), an Altrusa member, presented a check to Karin Barrett, Small World director.
History
Small World was founded in 1968. It was the inspiration of a small group of forward-thinking women who had all lived abroad while on sabbatical leave with their spouses. They knew how it felt to live in another country and not speak the language. They understood the need for companionship. Together the women worked to form a much-needed organization to serve international women in our community to foster friendship and understanding.
At first, Small World was a social program where women and their young children gathered twice a week. Later, when space was available the program expanded to include individual activities, such as cooking, sewing, knitting, quilting, crocheting and craft classes. Basic English classes were also taught.
Over the years, Small World has made changes to accommodate the needs of our students. After 20 years, our students indicated that they were less interested in the domestic activities that Small World offered. They preferred a more academically focused program. Therefore in 1990 Small World restructured our program from a social organization to an academic program. The new emphasis was on English. To reflect the change, instead of paying dues, students paid tuition.
The new academic program proved to be the right path for Small World to pursue. In later years, Small World expanded our English classes to six levels. However, the number of classrooms available for use limited the number of students accepted, and a waiting list was created.
For many years, Small World offered children’s classes and nursery care for the children of women enrolled in our English classes. (Children under 24 months were in the Nursery, children 2-3 years in the Toddler room and children 4-5 years in the Preschool class.) However, in 2015 the FPC decided to expand its own preschool program and use more of the classrooms, so Small World discontinued its children’s program.
The Program Today
Today enthusiastic students are attending classes at all levels. In the recent Fall 2025 semester, Small World enrolled 43 students from 21 different countries.
The program did briefly suspend classes in 2020 for COVID precautions, resuming in-person classes in the Fall of 2021. We salute our students and teachers who persisted in learning and teaching a language while masks were required for a brief period. The Lawrence Kansas Times profiled the program when classes resumed: https://lawrencekstimes.com/2022/01/12/esl-program/.
The volunteers who run Small World hope it will exist for another 50 years!
Small World Lawrence 