PORT HARDY—Thanks to help from staff at North Island College's Mount Waddington campus, a recent Canadian immigrant can study in comfort in NIC's English Second Language tutoring sessions.
Kazeem Af-say came to Canada as a refugee, to escape the violence of Iran, after his wife had been killed and his children taken from him. Now a permanent resident of Canada and living on the North Island, Mr. Af-say visited North Island College in Port Hardy seeking English Second Language tutoring sessions as he wanted to improve his English skills.
During Mr. Af-say’s writing and reading assessments, he requested to be closer to the light. He was wearing glasses, so ESLSAP Coordinator Julia Falla Woods, wondered why he needed more light.
“I asked him if he had a problem with his glasses,” Falla Woods said. “He said, ‘I know these glasses are not good. They are those that you buy at the pharmacy, but I can’t afford to buy glasses that are good for me, but can I still do the tutoring sessions, please?’”
Falla Woods contacted Thuy Sin, the Settlement Manager at the Immigrant Welcome Centre of North Vancouver Island, located in Campbell River, and asked her if something could be done.
After the Immigrant Welcome Centre arranged an eye exam and the purchase of lenses, Mr. Af-say received his new glasses and started his tutoring sessions at North Island College Jan. 9.
"This is just one example of the wonderful partnership that exists between the Immigrant Welcome Centre and NIC’s ESLSAP program, as both organizations work to welcome and prepare new immigrants for their new lives in Canada, and on the North Island," said Susan Auchterlonie, NIC's director of community relations..
For more information about North Island College programs, services and events, please visit www.nic.bc.ca or call 1-800-715-0914.