Great Plains College to provide childcare for English Language Training students

SWIFT CURRENT: The Swift Current United Way gave $6,000 to Great Plains College and the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre to provide childcare services for students attending English Language Training (ELT) classes at Great Plains College Swift Current Campus. 
 

“It has been a national priority for the United Way Movement in Canada to become involved with the long-term settlement of refugee families entering our communities,” said Stacey Schwartz, Executive Director of the Swift Current United Way. “This is a new area to the Swift Current United Way and we are excited to have an opportunity to make meaningful investments within our community to support refugee and newcomer integration.”

 

Childcare services for students participating in the ELT program began in July. Students can sign-up for this service when they register for classes. 

 

“Many families needing ELT classes have children, and often one parent has to stay at home with the children and cannot access classes,” explained Bula Ghosh, ELT coordinator at Great Plains College. “Thanks to this gift, both parents will have the opportunity to attend classes, and we are especially excited that this will open more doors for more newcomers to access language training and become a part of the community.”

 

“Education, and English language skills in particular, are an important part of settlement for newcomers,” said Icasiana de Gala, Executive Director of the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre. “We’re excited about this new opportunity to work with Swift Current United Way and the college to support newcomers and make the integration to our community even easier.”

 

ELT classes will resume at the Swift Current Campus in September and registration is ongoing. To learn more or to register for classes, visit greatplainscollege.ca/english-language-training or contact Bula Ghosh at bulag@greatplainscollege.ca or (306) 778-5477.

 

-30-

 

Amy Sletten – Communications Coordinator, Great Plains College
P: (306) 778-5498  C: (306) 737-6107
amys@greatplainscollege.ca

 

Icasiana de Gala – Executive Director, Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre
P: (306)778-6252
icasiana@newcomerwelcomecentre.com

 

Stacey Schwartz – Executive Director, Swift Current United Way
P: (306) 773-4828
unitedway@sasktel.net