Trinity has lived with her Grandma, Ramona since she was four because her mother and father struggle with addiction. On a typical day after school, nine-year-old Trinity would go home to her Grandma’s. She’d do homework, watch some TV and play with her dog. That changed when she enrolled in a United Way’s School’s Out Program at a Richmond elementary school.
Mondays and Fridays between 2:45-5:15 PM, she and other Grade 4-7 students spend their after school hours drumming, doing art, playing hockey and soccer and making friends. This School’s Out Program is about much more than recreation – it’s about learning how to interact with peers and communicate with others while developing healthy coping skills.
“This program has given [her] the doors to understanding that there’s a lot more in life besides schoolwork,” Ramona says. “There’s fun and fellowship.”
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Vulnerability to strength
The program delivered through Richmond Addiction Services Society aims to build resiliency in children who are very vulnerable due to their living situation, poverty and lack of support. Unignorable issues that affect too many local kids. And the program connects the kids that attend with each other as well as with the community around them.
“In a sea of inconsistency in a child’s life, we’re building those consistent people they can go to when they need help,” says Daniel Remedios, a Prevention Specialist with the society.
Trinity and her friends play together after school.
Gaby and Gabby, part-time prevention specialists and group leaders, work to build a warm, supportive atmosphere and foster strong, trusting relationships for the children to so they can learn and grow together… as well as have a lot of fun.
“Gabby’s nice,” Trinity says. “I learned drumming and how to get along with my friends better.”
“I was excited to learn about this program,” says Ramona. “To help [Trinity] with her life story and understanding her own life story.”
Meeting a need
“The program helps develop kids’ critical thinking skills,” says Principal Wong. “Empowering youth to recognize their strengths and trust their judgements, that’s super important.”
It also offers a chance to expand their world. During her first year at the school, Principal Wong found there were a lack of experiences and opportunities for neighbourhood children have.
“Kids were hanging out on the school grounds after school, some as young as Grade 4 – so 9-10 year olds – that’s still pretty young to be unsupervised even on a school ground after school. It was a little worrisome for me,” says Principal Wong. “There’s a vulnerability there to be just hanging out.”
According to an Insights West survey conducted in partnership with United Way British Columbia 66% of parents of children aged 6 to 12 say cost is the main barrier to having their child take part in after-school programs.
Expanding horizons
This no-cost program offers kids a chance to broaden their horizons, by providing opportunities that they may not be able to access. This includes meeting visitors from: Richmond Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art group that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music; Vancouver Coastal Health to learn about nutrition and good eating habits; and Thompson Community Centre to learn about nearby recreation program, among others.
Trinity and Ramona
The fledging program – that began in September 2017 – is a great success. Programs run in three 10-week sessions. Every time it is offered, there are waiting lists.
“It’s about having control and power over your own life,” says Principal Wong. “Having choice is probably the best thing you can have in your life. You can then direct how you want it to go.”
But the best measure of success is how the kids respond. And it’s working. “Believing in yourself is important because it makes other people feel good and yourself feel good,” says Trinity.
Help kids like Trinity succeed by giving them life changing access to after-school programs. Give today.