Creating better futures for multi-barriered refugee youth ages 18-25
Older refugee youth often experience multiple barriers to settlement in Canada and find it difficult to adjust to Canadian life and culture, learn practical English, complete highschool and further education, make successful transitions to the workforce and fulfil their life goals.
What do we offer?
We want to help youth create abundant lives for themselves by supporting them in all aspects of their lives for up to one year. We have three outreach workers who provide one-on-one support to youth to help them explore their dreams and interests, develop a practical career plan that considers individual needs, goals, backgrounds and responsibilities, learn about working and studying in Canada, solve their settlement challenges, improve their English and develop appropriate life and study skills.
We run classes each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6pm and a drop-in program on Fridays from 1-3pm at our Edmonds office at 7297 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C. Classes are modular and explore cultural adjustment issues, elementary job search strategies for youth with no work experience and low English levels as well as modern life skills. We also run popular theatre modules designed to develop soft skills for the workplace.
Who's eligible?
To be eligible, youth must be permanent residents aged 18-25, have lived in Canada for less than five years and not be in full-time school or training programs.
Why the name FreeRunning?
FreeRunning is a term used to describe an urban activity in which participants run, jump and climb over objects in their natural environment. Thin James Bond in the opening scene of Casino Royale. Freerunners experiment with movement, follow their own rhythm to create new paths and enjoy the journey as much as the goal. In Lingala, freerunning is called Ya makasi, meaning "strong person, strong spirit". This philosophy underpins our program for older refugee youth. By becoming symbolic freerunners in their own lives, participants are encouraged to dream, learn, grow and overcome barriers to settlement in Canada.
Contact Info:
If you would like more information, please contact Trilby McGaw on 604 721 0186 or at tmcgaw@mosaicbc.com.
