Foreign school children helped by Canadian immigration.

Children returned to their schools in Canada this week and many young immigrants were being helped in the process of settling in. Last year, a program was launched by Canadian immigration for helping children of immigrants who came to Canada to settle more easily in schools. The program was taking place again this week.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada gives funding for the Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW) and the same is being run by the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA Cross Cultural and Immigrant Service.

In the Newcomer Orientation Week, school children mentor their immigrant friends. Many children who are acting as mentors this year are the ones who began their last year in school as a part of the program and then joined again with the purpose of assisting new students who stand at the same position where they were one year ago.

The duration for NOW is four days and during this period young immigrants are given knowledge of many important things like where are the lockers, how to use them, wing in which their classes are held, and many other things. Many a times students face trouble with their English and therefore, just leaning the meaning of “wing” can make a difference in their comfort level in the school.

Another big part of NOW is making friends in the school. Children play games like quizzes and treasure hunts in the school, which not only helps them learn few things, but also allows them to make many friends in the process.