Immigrant youth travel ESL bridge

St. Joseph High School's English as a Second language program opens doors for students

- WCR photo by Bill Glen ESL department head Lynn Smarsh provides computer instruction to Jong Bin Lim, 16, who arrivewd from Korea a month ago. Lim has begun to learn English.

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Ghadir Jafari's father was killed when the boy was only four years old.

The family fled from Afghanistan to Iran where Ghadir worked every day doing whatever he could to earn money.

He saw no hope in his future - until the family immigrated to Canada three years ago where he found his way to St. Joseph High School.

The English as a Second Language (ESL) program at St. Joe's has been nothing short of a bridge of hope for 17-year-old Jafari.

Project Youth lifeline

"It was hard because I had no education and I had to make money to survive. I was in no position to go to school," he said.

A year ago, Jafari participated in a pilot project involving the high school, Catholic Social Services and the Alberta government called Project Youth: Integration and Education.

Now in its third year, the provincially funded project assists some 15 youth selected from the regular ESL program for individualized education and employment readiness.

Mary Gallivan says the project has become so successful, CSS and the government are looking at ways to elevate it from pilot project status to a permanent project with ongoing funding.

"Alberta Human Resources and Employment has been extremely supportive and encouraging," said Gallivan, manager of CSS's settlement programs.

"We got funding for the first year and they were pleased with the results. We just received funding for a third year. We are not saying the pilot is over at the end of the third year. But we are hoping it be considered an ongoing program and perhaps that it be expanded into other schools."

Sudanese impetus

The project was initially geared to support a small group of young Sudanese men who had come to Edmonton through the federal government's refugee assistance program. They had little formal education and began showing signs that they needed more support than they had received. Their grades had begun to suffer. Fear was growing that they would fall through the cracks.

Ghadir Jafari

Gallivan said the youth who finished the first year learned a number of life skills for living in their new homeland.

"They learned to budget and how to live in an apartment," she said. "They learned some social and cultural norms that they were not aware of."

After two years in the ESL program, Jafari is now looking forward to graduating with a high school diploma and life as an engineer or a cabinetmaker.

Future goals

"Since I came to Edmonton, it's been awesome," he said. "I have my goals. I know what I am doing. I have changed my life."

Lynn Smarsh says Jafari's story is similar to many of the ESL students who come from Mexico, Africa and Asia, for example.

And his self-confidence and outlook to a positive future can be attributable to Project Youth.

"Ghadir's experience is the same as many others here. He came looking for a new life," said Smarsh, ESL department head at St. Joe's.

"Through the project, Ghadir now has support networks. He sees education in a different light and as a pathway to follow for his goals in life. They all work very hard on making their journey to reach their goal at the end."

Project Youth teaches resume building, job interviewing skills and how to look for career opportunities.

Gallivan says the project is a combination of education and employment readiness.

The size of the group is kept small because of its individualized nature to help the students before they become too old for high school and move onto NorQuest College, for example.

"After the second year, all 12 of the students found summer jobs," Gallivan said. "That was a positive outcome. Their confidence and network of relationships has helped to provide the support they need."

Vital transition

The government has been keen to support the project because of the employment readiness, she said. Project Youth helps the students enter part-time employment now, while looking at a future career path.

"It's like a transition program."

Gallivan would like to make the project more sustainable with other funding sources besides the government.

"These young people are so resilient with hope for their future. They have a positive attitude," she said.

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