Raise-a-Reader: New immigrants benefit from early childhood education program

Seventeen-year-old Harmony earned her Dogwood certificate from Britannia Secondary in June, the same month her mother Lorrie earned her Early Childhood Education Assistant credentials from the Canucks Family Education Centre. Read Vancouver Sun article

CFEC is in the process of creating a new area on our site: The Early Childhood Forum. It will focus on sharing the latest information, research and programs with families and practitioners alike. As we discover and learn more about the importance the early years play in forming a strong foundation for children, families, and…

In 2007, Margarita fled a dangerous situation in El Salvador, leaving behind her baby son without knowing when or if she would see him again. In 2013, the Canucks Family Education Centre played a prominent role in reuniting Margarita with her son Mariano in Canada.

The mom didn’t attend school in Africa growing up and wants to get her high school diploma so she can train as a worker who helps in seniors homes. Her daughter was diagnosed earlier thanks to a private assessment. Read Vancouver Sun article

When her husband, the family’s only earner, was knocked out of commission for up to four months, the family got help from the Canucks’ Family Education Centre, which raised some extra money for rent and food for the family Read Vancouver Sun article

Barakzai is studying English and math through courses offered via a partnership between the Canucks Family Education Centre and the Vancouver school board. Her preschool children take part in CFEC’s Get Ready 2 Read (GR2R) early learning program, which runs concurrently while the parents are in class. Funds from The Vancouver Sun’s Raise-a-Reader campaign help…