The first day at a new school is nerve-racking for any child, but imagine how much more difficult it is for a student in a new country, with new cultures and languages.
To support students in Delta who are new to Canada, a three-week summer program was recently offered that attracted 17 kids in grades 5 to 10 from five countries.
"I think it is very important to host a summer youth camp for
newcomers because it allows them to slowly integrate into Canadian society," said Keith Law, program co-ordinator for the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multicultural Summer Youth Program.
"By providing them with a program that does not count for their school marks, they can focus more on understanding how their culture fits in with the culture in Canada. This also builds their confidence because the activities we do during our program develop teamwork, leadership and public speaking skills."
During the program, students learned how to work in group situations, how to adapt to new activities and crafts, and how to discover their own personality and strengths.
"We had a very diverse group so it was very interesting seeing how the different personalities and nationalities worked together," said Law.
Students in this year's program originated from Cambodia, China, Pakistan, Philippines and Taiwan. In order to join the program, students needed to be in Canada for less than five years.
The students enthusiastically embraced the many learning challenges presented to them. They were open and happy to be learning more about Canadian life and gaining the confidence they need to be successful in their schooling in Delta.
"I found that with some of our students, they built up confidence in themselves throughout the first two weeks and really felt comfortable sharing themselves with others in the group during the third week," said Law. "Whether it was their ability to draw, sing, play basketball or soccer, the group really started to show their true colours in the last week."
This year was the fourth time the Delta district has hosted the program.
Established in 1973, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is a charitable organization providing services in settlement, language training, employment, family and youth counselling, business and economic development, health care, housing and community development. For more information, visit www.success.bc.ca.
