B.C. non-profit marks Family Literacy Week with plea for newcomer program
ABBOTSFORD — The writing is on the wall for B.C. ‘s Decoda Literacy Solutions as the organization receives funding cuts to its long-standing Immigrant Parents as Literacy Supporters (IPALS) program.
The bilingual program has been helping newcomers in nearly 20 communities, including Abbotsford, by giving parents the resources to support their kids’ Pre-K to Kindergarten development in English and their first language.
“[It] provides tools and books to families that may not have access to supplies that help their children’s learning and growth,” said Abbotsford School District facilitator Jasdip Jhajj. “Parents are able to see if their children are meeting the milestones they should be meeting.”
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has been funding IPALS since it launched in B.C. ten years ago, but in December, the federal agency cut back support to Decoda along with a number of immigrant support services. The group now faces a $450,000 budget shortfall.
