Community engagement provides learning options

By Chantaie Allick


The University of British Columbia Learning Exchange and HSBC Bank Canada are working together to make a difference in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.



Established eight years ago, the UBC Learning Exchange is a university-community engagement initiative that operates in the Eastside.


HSBC has supported the Learning Exchange since 2003 and in 2007, the bank donated $107,000 to support the Learning Exchange’s programs, directly benefiting the residents of the Downtown Eastside, both children and adults.


Director Dr. Margo Fryer and her team have established important programs like the computer skills program and the English as a second language (ESL) conversation program, both supported by HSBC.


The computer skills program provides workshops to Downtown Eastside residents allowing them to gain or improve computer literacy, while the ESL program provides English as a second language conversation groups for immigrants, facilitated by volunteers from the Downtown Eastside and other local neighbourhoods.


Most recently, HSBC has helped fund the academic and literacy enhancement in schools program, which enables UBC students like anthropology major Lauren Nguyen to volunteer their time to work one-on-one with students at elementary schools to help improve or advance their reading and writing skills. The volunteers help support children’s academic growth and act as role models, engaging in caring relationships that may impact children throughout their school experience and the rest of their lives.


Nguyen got to work with students like eleven-year-old Shwana, a former refugee from Iraq who, before working with Learning Exchange student volunteers, barely spoke English. After just a year in the literacy program, Shwana jumped two reading levels and dramatically improved his English reading, writing and speaking skills.


“The chance to have somebody mentor you one-to-one over a long period of time is a really key component to the success of this program,” says Shwana’s principal, Catherine Feniak.
If there is one thing that the individuals involved with the Learning Exchange agree upon it is the importance and value of the connections that are being made through the programs supported by HSBC between the children, UBC student volunteers, schools and the community at large.


“What we’re doing with HSBC is paving the way or shining a light, hopefully, for other institutions and other businesses,” Fryer says.


“This is how we, as a larger society, a larger community, can be supporting the education of our young people in innovative, creative, fun kinds of ways that can only have positive outcomes.” For more information visit: www.learningexchange.ubc.ca.

 
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