The Language Explorers Club, a program run by the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Center recently received a helping hand in the form of a $25,000 Community Initiatives Fund grant.
Executive Director of the center Deanna Baje provides some details on the weekly program for school-aged newcomers that provides them with the chance to practice and strengthen their English language skills.
"We have classroom time focusing on themes like seasons, environment, community, money, and directions to build on their information and knowledge about Canadian culture as well"
Baje stresses the importance of the program as our community is seeing an increasing population of newcomers and with them their children. Baje says they want these children to grow in our community with strong English language skills which will help to ensure they are successful not only in school but also as members of the community,
Baje provides details on how they plan to use the newly acquired funds.
"So we have planned to use the grant money for instruction. For us to be able to pay our LEC coordinator as well as the assistant and also some supplies that we will be using."
In addition, Baje says they are very grateful to receive the grant and encourages all newcomer clients who have children who are not enrolled in the Language Explorers Club to contact their settlement workers in schools to make sure they can be a part of the program.