Kids Corner
Communities and Friends Learning Together Program: Partnerships That Work
The ‘Communities and Friends Learning Together’ (CFLT) Program is a remarkable program that is making a big difference in the lives of students attending Morely Elementary in South Burnaby. It is facilitated by Frontier College, a close partner of the Canucks Family Education Centre, and is offered to students between the ages of 8 and 12 who attend Morley Elementary – a school with a high population of immigrant students. Like many of the programs offered by the Canucks Family Education Centre, Frontier College’s CFLT program focuses on improving students’ reading and writing abilities while strengthening the kids' sense of community, as well as building positive relationships at school.
As the Youth and Childcare worker at Morely Elementary, Lana Horton knows the importance of connecting immigrant and refugee students to a safe and inspiring community like the one offered by the CFLT program.
“The idea behind the program was to increase literacy while creating an atmosphere where kids are attaching to positive adult role models who can show them care,” explains Horton. “A lot of our students in the program are either from refugee or immigrant families and their English skills are still progressing. Many of the children come from what was a very close culture of connection. The families come to Canada and it is quite isolated for them. We can build in a new connection place, and that’s very much a part of what we do at the school.”
“The CFLT program increases the number of positive relationships the kids have with adults,” explains Program Coordinator, Julie Ann Ames. “It is said that the more positive relationships that a child has with adults, the more likely they are to have success as an adult in society.”
“When many of the students start the program they are quiet and shy and don’t feel comfortable sharing their work or stories. Then there comes a point, a few weeks down the road, when the students become excited and want to share,” says Horton. “They feel safe and that tells me we are doing good work. The children are connecting and you begin to see an impact.”
The Canucks Family Education Centre recently ran the Families Stories Writing Contest and the CFLT students attending Morley Elementary were eager to enter the contest. Tyler Stiber is a writing contest runner-up and appreciates the opportunity to participate in the program.
“If you don’t read, you won’t do well in life,” says Stiber. “Reading is a big thing in life, and if you don’t read enough, you won’t be able to understand the words around you - what they mean or how to be able to pronounce them.”
For another student and contest runner-up, Muhammad Abasi, being part of CFLT allows him to grow as a citizen and as a learner.
“I love [this class],” says Abasi. “This program is a place to entertain yourself, show who you really are.”
With a need for afterschool activities and programs to occupy the minds and hearts of children during a vulnerable and important period in their lives, programs such as CFLT help to foster learning and creativity within a fun and safe group environment.
CFEC has a long-standing partnership with Frontier College, especially in developing and expanding CFEC’s largest and most successful literacy program to date: ‘Partners In Education.’
“This partnership has been successful because the relationship between the two organizations has been one based on mutual respect, understanding, and support,” explains Julie Ames. “The two organizations both have the mandate of improving the lives, literacy, and learning of others; sharing this central goal has been fundamental in allowing the two organizations to thrive together.”
To learn more about CFLT and Frontier College Vancouver, or to find out how you can become a volunteer, please email Vancouver@frontiercollege.ca
For the full story about all four Family Stories Writing Contest winners, and to see what great prizes they won, please click here.
Story written by: Jean Rasmussen and Jessica Prasad
