Children, Youth & Young Adults Program
Every year over 200 immigrant and refugee children, youth and young adults use VIRCS Programs and staff to help them integrate into Greater Victoria area.
Enable Programhas support the needs of children and youth between the ages of 6 - 25 since 1997.
All of services/activities are designed to address their academic, social and emotional needs as they transition into Canadian Society.
Program activities include:
Sparks Group for Children
Homework Club & Tutoring
Adjustment Support Groups for Children
Youth Activity Night – Youth Drop-ins
Youth Strides Summer Camp
Sparks For children
At Sparks we use games, art, stories and sports to help children make new friends, practice their English and learn about Canadian culture. All activities and lessons plans revolve around promoting self-esteem, creative self-expression, healthy behaviours while celebrating diversity and having fun.
Age Range: 6-11
Schedule/ LoCATION : Sparks takes place after school for two hours per week, for 10 weeks at a local elementary school. Please contact us for more information.
Homework Club/Tutoring
Homework Clubs help students to succeed in their new school environments by providing one-on-one tutoring and homework help. Homework Clubs help students at any level with any school subject. It improves the students’ self-confidence and academic performance. Clubs meet once a week with qualified volunteer tutors. One-on-one tutoring is also available.
Age Range: 6-25
Schedule: Tuesdays, 4:00 – 6:00pm
Location: Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society, Third Floor, 637 Bay Street, Downtown
Adjustment Support Groups
Facilitated by professional therapists, the Adjustment Support Groups provide extra support for students from diverse cultures by providing a safe environment for expressing and processing feelings about their immigration experiences. The group helps them overcome challenges such as grief and loss, separation from family members, loneliness or isolation and past traumatic experiences.
The Adjustment Support Groups are offered in local elementary and middle schools and are only open to students of those schools.
Age Range: 6-11
Schedule and Location: Offered at a local elementary school for 10 weeks at one hour per week. Please contact us for more information.
Youth Activity Night
Youth Activity Night provides a safe and fun place for youth to meet socially and make new friends once a week. Every week we offer a different activity, including arts, sports, field trips and cultural sharing activities. We do things like play basketball and volleyball, explore the arts, visit local parks and get to know Victoria better. Youth practice their English, have fun, learn new things and make friends from all over the world.
Age Range: 12-20
Schedule: Wednesdays, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Location: Pearkes Recreation Centre, 3100 Tillicum Rd
Youth Strides Summer Camp
Youth Strides is a week-long summer camp for immigrant and refugee youth. We participate in various workshops and activities throughout the week, including the arts, leadership and outdoor recreation. Important world issues are explored such as racism, religion, media, cultural differences, and many more. Youth learn leadership skills, gain confidence, make new friends and successfully work toward their personal goals as they transition to life in Canada.
VIRCS Enable Theatre Project - Documentary
The Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society and Enable Program is proud to present “Where is Home” the theatrical documentary 2010-11. Now on DVD, take a journey to witness the real life stories and experiences of 15 immigrant and refugee youth as they settle into Canada. An original and emotion-filled performance depicting the challenges of immigration, cultural adjustment, family dynamics and “fitting-in” to the Canadian school system. Get an inside look into the minds and hearts of newcomer youth as they share their experiences.
Filmed, edited and produced by the youth team in partnership with Medianet. Directed by Dr.Yasmine Kandil. Music creation and accompaniment by Enrique Rivas.
Background: The Enable Youth Theatre Project 2009-2012 has brought together young newcomers from around the world to tell their stories, created a moving and powerful play based on their real-life experiences. For the past three year, it offered the community an inside look into on the challenges that youth, immigrant and refugee, face when settling adjusting to Canadian Society. With over 30 live performances touching the heart of +700 audience members the plays brought awareness, education and facilitated safe space to dialogue issues of diversity, inclusion, multiculturalism and more.
To purchase a copy of the documentary please contact Danny Tes at enable@vircs.bc.ca or 250-361-9433 ext.245.
