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.

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…

Donations from generous Vancouver Sun and Province readers have resulted in over $23 million in funds for Raise-a-Reader beneficiaries since 1997. This year’s campaign runs Sept. 20 to 27. Read the Vancouver Sun Article

Read Vancouver Sun article Appeal from CFEC Founder & Executive Director, Jean Rasmussen