AGAPE PROJECTS FOR ENGLISH-SPEAKING CHILDREN, YOUTH AND PARENTS Agape- NPI Partners’ Meeting: February 25 th 2020
A special thanks and welcome
Today’s Overview • Bright Beginnings Project • Literacy Promotion • School perseverance projects (with Boys to Men Canada) • Healthy Early Years Program ( HEY) • Goymyinfo.com (Youth Outreach) • McGill Retention of Health Professionals Project • McGill Bursary Program • Senior Wellness Centre Project: Intergenerational Gardening • Lunch and Networking
• The Bright Beginnings program is designed to mobilize partners and enhance the well-being and educational success of English-speaking children and youth in Quebec. Funding for this program is provided by the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation and the project is managed by the CHSSN. • The English-speaking community context across Quebec and in Laval: • High levels vulnerability (low educational attainment, high unemployment, more likely than Francophone majority to earn less than $20,000 per year/below the LICO). • Laval ESC has large income gaps within the community across the island.
• Evidence from Joanne Pocock Presentation (March 2019) for developmental delays in English- speaking children. • Goal: Outreach and sensitization of Francophone institutions and community organizations to allow English-speaking children/families better access to services/opportunities. • Long-term have better developmental and educational outcomes for English-speaking children
Over the past three years LSA`s Community Learning Centre in partnership with AGAPE Youth & Parents Family Association has received funding from The Ministère de l’Education et de l'Enseignement supérieur (MEES) to develop a project promoting literacy through learning activities. This project targets youth 12-17 yrs. from both Laval Junior and Senior Academy Schools, their families as well as members of the greater Laval community.
A series of themed lunch and evening events designed to explore, inspire and promote literacy skills. guest presentations, demos, facilitated hands-on interactive activities, themed book swaps and reading lounges. food and refreshments , draw prizes, activities for families with younger children. Community Partners: Bibliothèques de Laval, The Learning Exchange (TLE), Régroupement lavallois pour la réussite educative (RLPRE)
2019
Boys to Men and Girls to Women Canada are two powerful intergenerational mentoring programs Laval Senior Academy has begun to offering its students.
Mentor circles are about… Holding space with and for youth. Providing a safe , non-judgmental and supportive environment for students to share their story(ies), recognize their authentic voice and limitless potential. Developing essential and valuable life skills: Self-awareness, self-advocacy, self-confidence, self-management, self-care, listening skills, empathy, compassion and responsible decision making.
Circle Sessions Each circle is composed of intergenerational team of mentors ( seniors, young adults, alumni , teachers, support staff) and is lead by a group facilitator. Consistency is essential to the success and development of the program. Mentors commit to weekly sessions and hold space and provide support for participating students. Sessions combine learning, fun, leadership opportunities, peer mentoring and self-esteem building exercises. Every session begins with a check-in for each member and is followed by a discussion/activity lead by the group facilitator. Sessions incorporate methods for self-management (ex: meditation practice). The mentor does not teach or lecture, just tells their story. This gives the students permission to share their stories.
Healthy Early Years (HEY) • A CHSSN funded project to support/develop the health promotion of young English-speaking families with children from 0-6 years old across Quebec (NPI networks). • Agape targeted young families whose child or children have recently been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. • Very skilled and experienced coordinators were recruited to deliver this project.
Gotmyinfo.com • This resource was adapted as a result of the Agape Youth Outreach Initiative (NPI activity component). • The original resource was initially only available in French and promoted within the Commission scolaire de Laval, called “As -tu mon numéro ?” • The resource stems from a sub- committee of the “ Comité regional école pivot” which seeks to bridge schools with the larger community. • Being part of “As -tu mon numéro ” committee Agape was able to have the website translated into English (Community resources verified for services being available in English) • Agape now heads the “Got my info?” committee. • Apple Store app to follow. • We need to promote, promote, PROMOTE!! • gotmyinfo.com
Agape-McGill Retention of Health Professionals • Agape’s Retention Project aims at creating awareness of the needs of the English -speaking Community of Laval, increase understanding and promoting careers in the health and social services area through collaboration with various key partners. • Our goal is to identify bilingual students from English schools interested in pursuing their studies in health and social services and to help them have a better understanding of health and social service fields of practice and further their interest in future health careers. • Ultimately we want them to return to Laval as bilingual health professionals working in their home community. To do this we hold yearly field trips to the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital (March 31 st 2020). • Students from Laval Senior Academy and North Star Academy. • Conversation club with health professionals to practice speaking the English language.
Agape-McGill Bursary Program • The Special Targeted Bursary Program: • Dialogue McGill offers funding to community networks to offer special (conditional) bursaries. • Bursaries are granted to qualifying students who are studying in a health or social service related field (Vocational, CEGEP or University). • Recipients agree to, after graduating, finding work in Laval as health professionals for a minimum of one year per bursary granted. • They have three years to secure employment following graduation.
Intergenerational Gardening - Senior citizens from the Agape Senior Wellness Centre sharing time with grade 2 students from Twin Oaks Elementary School - Gardening, arts and crafts, reading stories, decorating and building bird houses - Four weeks program in the spring - Produce being sold to parents at Twin Oaks Elementary School as a fund raiser and more produce/plants donated to Agape for underprivileged families in Laval.
Questions and/or comments Thank you!
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