Lucca is one of 170,000 children in the Lower Mainland between the ages of 6-12. Just like his mom, Miriam, a single mother, Lucca loves soccer. The 9-year-old is also passionate about poetry. Thanks to a unique United Way School’s Out program in Burnaby, he gets to participate in both.
“Soccer’s my favourite, but I like poetry too,” he says.
Ten percent of Lower Mainland children aged 9 – 12 report they are without adult supervision from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. This figure rises to 16% in Grade 7. Too many unstructured hours can lead to participation in unhealthy peer groups, too much screen time, and isolation and depression. But with one in five BC children living in poverty, there are significant barriers to children’s involvement in after-school activities, including transportation, time, availability, and cost.
United Way partners with Canada SCORES to make it possible for low-income Burnaby families and children at five local schools to participate in after-school programming that integrates soccer, poetry and community service experiences. Participants are inspired to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world.
Our partnership supports daily 90 minute after-school sessions in soccer and poetry. It also supports coaching, soccer games, poetry slams, and community service projects.
In July, Lucca read his poem at a Canada SCORES event in Burnaby in front of 200 people including Burnaby Mayor Dereck Corrigan.
“I was so proud of him,” Miriam says.
Learn more about United Way’s School’s Out Initiative.
Topics : Kids and Youth, School's Out
