Oakland Asian Students Educational Services

In 1983, a group of UC Berkeley undergraduates founded OASES to provide a critical safety net for youth living in Oakland’s Chinatown. These founders grew up in the same urban neighborhood and recognized its dangerous lack of positive resources for youth. Issues such as recent immigration, access to English language instruction, low-income poverty cycles, and gang violence greatly affected youths’ lives. Responding to the increasing needs of this underserved and primarily immigrant population, OASES offered individualized academic support and mentoring to prepare children for lives as productive members of their communities. In 1991, OASES became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Today, OASES has grown into an organization of more than 400 volunteers, serving over 400 students in grades K-12 each year regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, or religious belief. The various educational and enrichment programs offered by OASES are designed to meet the diverse needs of these youth.

OASES youth programs are grounded in the youth development principles of skill building, supportive relationships, safety, meaningful youth involvement, and community involvement. Students learn to respect themselves, others, and their environment. OASES takes a comprehensive approach in its program design to provide youth with opportunities that are not often offered at school by including academic, recreation, and enrichment activities such as peer leadership, environmental education, diversity education, financial literacy, arts, and more. Youth are able to learn, explore, collaborate, and have fun while developing self-confidence, social and life skills such as conflict resolution, problem solving skills, and effective communication.