Teen Trade School Fair at Surrey Library: “Learn about a variety of careers and programs in the trades at the Teen Trade School Fair. For teens and young adults ages 13 to 25”

Employment Services for Newcomers at Libraries: “Drop in to get help with job searching, learn how to find a job in your field, and find out about skills training. For Permanent Residents.​

Options Moving Ahead Program Community Welcoming Breakfast: Options Moving Ahead Program took part in a Community Welcoming Breakfast, organized/hosted by the Surrey Christian School as an ongoing initiative created in 2016 to promote a better understanding of WHY people become refugees, HOW refugees arrive in Canada as well as to highlight issues and challenges refugees face. At this Community Welcoming Breakfast, Options Moving Ahead Program brought our Spanish-speaking clients to meet with students from a Spanish Language Class. Students and newcomers were able to interact and share stories. The Spanish Language Instructor reported how well students appreciated learning from our newcomers despite language/communication challenges ... students try to use their Spanish language and appreciated the patience offered by newcomers. It was a great experience for our MAP clients as well. As our newcomers saw students struggle to keep a conversation and put sentences together, they realize/appreciate that language a new language is difficult for everyone. This experience was an encouragement for our newcomers to be less afraid to try to speak English with others.

A Yoga Instructor Visits the Youth Literacy Project: For the topic of Physical Wellness, the Youth Literacy Project had the pleasure of having a very special guest instructor. Elina Dolzhikov is a professional yoga instructor who showed our students how to do basic meditation, yoga techniques, and how yoga can be beneficial in everyday life! The students said the experience was “relaxing,” “restful,” and even a bit “painful” at times! The Youth Literacy Project continues to seek more engaging and entertaining ways to teach Youth not only English but also important life tips.

2nd Annual Refugee Claimant Resource Fair: Options organized its 2nd Annual Refugee Claimant Resource Fair, this time with MOSAIC as co-host. Over 55 attendees were able to gather information and resources from participating agencies: RCMP, BC211, Kinbrace, Fraser Health Services, Legal Services Society, Salvation Army, UNHCR, Surrey Libraries, and Hot Tubs & Spa Company. Fadi Yachoua from Embarkation Law Corporation offered a presentation on refugee appeals and answered questions related to refugee claims. We appreciate financial support from Vancity Credit Union and venue sponsorship from Surrey Libraries; this event was made possible through funding from the B.C. Ministry of Jobs, Trades and Technology.

RCMP Diversity Unit Visits the Current Events Discussion Class: Options Community Services is always seeking engaging and non-traditional ways for the newcomers to learn English! One of our activity-based literacy classes, Current Events Discussion Class, had two very special guest speakers for the topic of “Drugs and Crime in Surrey.” Sergeant Ray Stanford and Constable Yousef Nasimi are from Surrey RCMP Diversity Outreach Unit and were happy to have an open-dialogue with the students. No question was too small or too strange – the students had a golden opportunity to ask the officers about home safety, personal safety, and even how to dispute their speeding tickets! For more information on the Surrey RCMP Diversity Unit, visit their homepage: http://bc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ For more information on registering for Current Event Discussion class, please contact Brandon.Koo@options.bc.ca