Supply drive supports newcomer students

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/10/2018 (2769 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hand-decorated bags, packs of crayons, and construction paper are some of the healing tools local students have donated to immigrant and refugee children at Newcomer Employment Education Development Services.

Throughout September, the lunch-hour art club at General Byng School designed 50 totes and collected dozens of art supplies from the community to fill each bag.

Zoey Millar, a Grade 7 student, said the art club’s members and students at General Byng were eager to participate in the supply drive organized by the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties and Manitoba Education and Training.  

“I thought it was a good idea because it’s nice to give to people who don’t have what we necessarily have and what we take for granted,” Millar said. “The donations have been generous, because it’s a whole bucket of things from people’s homes and a lot of it is new.”

Neighbours and parents also got involved with the effort at a fall barbecue where the students solicited supplies and totes were decorated by the folks in attendance.

NEEDS is a non-profit charitable organization that provides services and support to immigrant and refugee children and their families at the NEEDS Centre (251-A Notre Dame Ave.).

The art supply kits embellished with welcoming and inspiring messages will be given to the youngest members of the NEEDS community for art therapy sessions.

Carla Bates, the school’s art specialist, said the supply drive was a chance to teach students about the needs of the community and how to support their peers.

“It’s related to being good citizens, and teaching the children to give, and it’s also related to art, so it all came together,” Bates said.

Students were also taught about the circumstances that force children and their families to flee their homes as refugees, Bates said.

“It was another learning opportunity to make people aware of what people are going through and their needs and how we can give back,” she said. “The kids are learning that together as a group we can do a lot.”

The club’s members know first-hand the benefits of art programming and some, like Akera Ochan, who was born in Kenya, and Aneri Patel, whose family is from India, know what it’s like to arrive in Canada as a newcomer. They hope their contribution to the art supply drive and their messages will make the transition to life in Canada a bit easier for other kids.

“We were trying to make it as inclusive as possible to make them feel comfortable because there’s been a lot of change for them moving around everywhere,” Sofia Scarcella, 12, said.

“They will feel happy and grateful for getting the bags and that people care about them,” Ochan, 14, added.