ANC Newsletter - Winter 2017
Congratulations to two Extraordinary Newcomers! 
Congratulations to Rukiya Jelal Yusuf for being named the 2016 recipient of the Fred Coxworthy Scholarship! Fred Coxworthy was a longstanding and dedicated volunteer with the Association, and his kindness, dedication, and knowledge contributed much to what the organization is today.

This $500 annual scholarship was established in 2013 to honour Fred and to highlight the hard work of a student attending the ANC’s Language Training Centre. Indeed, Rukiya’s success in the Association’s ESL Program and the Adult Basic Education (ABE) Programs at Rabbittown and Academy Canada is a true testament to her hard work since arriving in Canada in 2014 as a Government-Assisted Refugee from Sudan.

Rukiya is currently completing Level 3 ABE at Academy Canada and plans to attend Memorial University to study nursing. She is certainly a highly ambitious and dedicated woman and is a very deserving recipient of this award.

Congratulations to our Settlement Workers in the Schools (SWIS) Counsellor Tilak Chawan and his family on receiving their Canadian Citizenship. Since arriving in Canada as a Government-Assisted Refugee in 2012, Tilak has made significant contributions to the settlement and integration of young newcomers living in the province and, among his many accomplishments, was named an RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winner in 2016!
Let’s Talk Business Diversity!
Last November, the ANC’s Diversity Outreach Team organized two Business Diversity Roundtables in Gander and Grand Falls–Windsor. Bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and community organizations, the events highlighted recent immigration trends in the province and explored ways that local businesses can leverage an increasingly diverse workforce to help spur innovation and drive economic growth.

Additional roundtables are planned to take place across the province in the New Year (see below for details on our upcoming roundtables in Clarenville). If you’re interested in participating, contact the Diversity Outreach Team at [email protected]. 
Attraction, Retention, and Integration of Immigrants in Smaller Communities
Last October, Pathways to Prosperity (P2P), in partnership with the Atlantic Region Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (ARAISA) and the ANC, hosted a workshop on the Attraction, Retention, and Integration of Immigrants in Smaller Communities in St. John's. The event was a fantastic opportunity for key stakeholders from across Canada to explore challenges and promising practices related to an increasingly relevant topic.
Government-Assisted Refugee (GAR) Update

During 2016, the ANC helped welcome and resettle 282 GARs arriving in Newfoundland and Labrador, including 188 from Syria.
The ANC is seeking interpreters for Swahili, Kiswahili, and Kirundi.  Please contact (709) 722-9680 or [email protected] for information or to sign-up.
Recent Events

Rooms Tour and Watercolor Lesson – Thanks to generous support from The Rooms, TD Bank, and the Nova Scotia Art Gallery, participants in the ANC’s Women’s Group enjoyed a watercolour class and guided tour of The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum. SEE MORE

Visit to Salmonier and The Rooms – Participants in our Young Adult’s Group got up close and personal with some of the province’s wildlife/nature during visits to Salmonier Nature Park and The Rooms. A sincere thanks to Nature NL and your fantastic volunteers for facilitating these events! READ MORE
Mummer's Parade  – Participants in our Youth Group had a great time at the annual St. John’s Mummer’s Parade and were sporting some fantastic masks that they made at Friends of United Nations (FUN) Club just for the occasion!    SEE MORE

Geography Fair  – As part of Geography Awareness Week, our Young Adult’s Group was treated to a visit from MUN’s Department of Geography. Students and professors visited the ESL Training Centre to teach everyone about geography in the province and studying geography at Memorial University. SEE MORE

Volunteer with the ANC

After School Program

We are in need of volunteers to support the After School Program!  Volunteers provide assistance for at least one hour per week  during the following times:
• St. Theresa's         Mondays, 3:00-4:00
• Leary's Brook        Tuesdays, 2:40-4:00
• Bishop Abraham    Wednesdays, 3:00-4:00
• St. Andrew's          Thursdays, 2:30-4:00

This Program offers homework support to newcomer children in a group environment, as well as the opportunity to participate in a variety of recreational and social activities. Volunteers assist by:    

• Aiding participants with homework, assignments, and projects
• Participating in group activities
• Helping with event logistics (setting up, etc.) 

If you’d like to join us for this rewarding and important position, we would love to welcome you.  Click here to sign up!

Newcomer Match Program

Our Newcomer Match Program pairs volunteers with newcomers to Canada to help them adjust to life in their new community. Volunteers meet with their match for two hours per week for six months to offer: 

• An opportunity to practice English 
• Information on Canadian customs, culture, and society 
• Information on community resources 
• Insight into life in Newfoundland and Labrador

Each participant in the Newcomer Match Program has their own set of goals and, depending on these goals, volunteers may perform a number of activities, including: 

• Practicing conversational English 
• Assisting with reading and writing
• Visiting organizations/groups that are of interest to the participant 

To apply for, or to learn more about, this rewarding and engaging opportunity, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at (709) 722-9680 or [email protected].
Donations and Volunteers Needed for the Mother/Baby Program
The Mother/Baby Program provides stay-at-home moms and their children with an opportunity to socialize and take part in various educational activities. Recent activities have included learning how to prepare healthy snacks, car seat safety, and child-proofing a house. The group meets every Wednesday from 10:00am - 12:00pm. 
 
The following donations of gift cards are needed:
  • Dominion or Sobeys (to provide healthy and allergy-friendly snacks)
  • Michael's, Wal-Mart, or Dollarama (for craft supplies)  
Volunteers are needed to assist with a variety of tasks, including helping with crafts, event set-up and clean-up, snack preparation, child-minding, etc. For more information or to sign-up, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at (709) 722-9680 or [email protected] .
Upcoming Events
Business Diversity Roundtable – We're hosting a pair of Business Diversity Roundtables in Clarenville on February 8 and 15. Our February 8 event is at capacity, but you can still join a waitlist.
Get your seats for February 15 by clicking here.  
Volunteer Orientation Session – February 7 from 11am - 12pm at our Main Office (144 Military Road). To register or for more information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at  [email protected] or (709) 722-9680.

Mother/Baby Program – The ANC is offering a Mother and Baby Program every Wednesday for newcomer stay-at-home mothers. If you are a stay-at-home mom and would like to participate in this program, please contact Raya at (709) 722-9680 or [email protected].

Computer Support Class – The ANC is offering a weekly Computer Support Class for newcomer young adults every Wednesday from 2-3:30 in the Computer Lab of our ESL Training Centre. Please contact Meghan at (709) 722-2828 or [email protected] for more information.

Evening ESL Classes – We’re offering Evening ESL Classes at our ESL Training Centre every Tuesday from 7-9 pm. The classes are available in 4 different levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Pronunciation. For more information, please contact Marlene at (709) 726-6848 or [email protected].

CELPIP Testing – We're offering monthly Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) Testing at our ESL Training Centre. The next date for testing is Saturday, February 11. For more information, please contact Marlene at (709) 726-6848 or [email protected].