special programs
Summer Orientation Program for South Asian Families
In the month of July 2009 PICS partnered with the Delta School District’s Settlement Worker in Schools Program (SWIS) to deliver a Summer Orientation Program for South Asian Families. The program’s objective was to form a school-community partnership to respond to an identified need of providing South Asian families extra support by assisting vulnerable students and their families through an orientation, which would strengthen language skills in hopes to build confidence, and provide information to develop their background knowledge of the Canadian School system and culture.
By also joining with South Asian Arts and Higher Learning to deliver the program, the orientation also provided on site settlement counseling services regarding settlement issues such as job search skills, one workshop for parents on school culture and expectations, and the importance to support the goals of their child’s program and the school’s goals. Through this initiative newcomer parents, along with their children, felt empowered to communicate more effectively in the future with school staff regarding their educational needs.
All in all, the summer orientation program was a great success. The newcomer students received valuable information about conflict resolution, school programs, accessing school / after-school activities, future education and other community resources. Newcomer parents became more familiar with the Canadian culture and the school system, conflict resolution, school activities, community and government resources, along with accessing services within the school and community.
By also joining with South Asian Arts and Higher Learning to deliver the program, the orientation also provided on site settlement counseling services regarding settlement issues such as job search skills, one workshop for parents on school culture and expectations, and the importance to support the goals of their child’s program and the school’s goals. Through this initiative newcomer parents, along with their children, felt empowered to communicate more effectively in the future with school staff regarding their educational needs.
All in all, the summer orientation program was a great success. The newcomer students received valuable information about conflict resolution, school programs, accessing school / after-school activities, future education and other community resources. Newcomer parents became more familiar with the Canadian culture and the school system, conflict resolution, school activities, community and government resources, along with accessing services within the school and community.
HIV/AIDS Workshops
Since 2005 PICS has been promoting healthy living by providing HIV/AIDS awareness, education, and prevention strategies to the multicultural communities of the Fraser Valley region. Our main objective has been to provide practical strategies though education to prevent HIV/AIDS among Adolescents/Youth based on their value system, cultural heritage and lifestyles. The PICS Community Outreach Worker has been responsible for delivering series of HIV/AIDS education-based workshops to multicultural communities in the Surrey-Delta area, with a particular emphasis on the facilitation of workshops to South Asian Youth. Through workshops, we attempt to break free from cultural myths and stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS. Through visual aids, interaction and open discussion we leave participants with a clear understanding of how HIV is transmitted and can be prevented. Also, participants are left with an understanding of how social/cultural values and norms impact myths surrounding this disease.
PICS will continue to partner with other organizations to ensure that workshops are accessible to the diverse youth groups in the community, specifically new immigrant youth. We would also like to extend the reach of HIV/AIDS education and awareness within the Surrey School District. Along with providing access to HIV/AIDS workshops, we try to empower our youth with much more. Seeds are planted in youth to explore all community resources available to them (e.g. PICS). We feel that HIV/AIDS workshops are a stepping stone to positive guidance and mentorship. We would like to utilize these workshops to engage youth and point them in the right direction using the proper tools and resources so that they too can become healthy successful individuals.
PICS will continue to partner with other organizations to ensure that workshops are accessible to the diverse youth groups in the community, specifically new immigrant youth. We would also like to extend the reach of HIV/AIDS education and awareness within the Surrey School District. Along with providing access to HIV/AIDS workshops, we try to empower our youth with much more. Seeds are planted in youth to explore all community resources available to them (e.g. PICS). We feel that HIV/AIDS workshops are a stepping stone to positive guidance and mentorship. We would like to utilize these workshops to engage youth and point them in the right direction using the proper tools and resources so that they too can become healthy successful individuals.
(604) 596-7722