Ms. Shauna Joyce is the Executive Director of Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre.
People need people, it is as simple as that. After a year of social distancing and severely limited social gatherings, we are all craving human connection. Now more than ever, we need to re-establish and strengthen our connection to our neighbours and our support networks.
Thankfully, Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre was able to re-open last July, (with restrictions) and is now providing programs in-person to all participants except seniors.
The pandemic and the public health guidelines that were implemented have frayed the fabric of many communities such as Little Burgundy whose large, recently- immigrated population struggles with language, cultural, and financial issues as well as an acute sense of isolation. For this community, Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre has been a refuge.
One young single mother, Zoubaida, an Asylum refugee claimant, shares her recent experience as a new member of the Tyndale family.
‘My eldest daughter Sofia (age 4) joined Tyndale’s Early Childhood Department in November… and my youngest daughter, Chloe (age 1) joined this spring semester. Both girls are extremely happy and excited to be part of the program. As an Asylum refugee claimant, my children had no access to nursery school. Tyndale did not just help us … they showed us that good people do exist and that there is goodness in the world.
The girls lived the Christmas spirit thanks to Tyndale St-Georges. I will never ever forget the looks on the girls’ faces when they saw the gifts they received. I am so grateful for the Christmas gift basket of groceries that we also received, it was so hard to be away from my family and support system, but I was able to manage because of the support from Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre.
Tyndale is helping the girls adapt and they have helped me (through the Parent’s Support Group) by providing me a place to share all the ups and downs of parenthood. Whenever I need guidance, I reach out to Tyndale St-Georges. We hope to be part of the Tyndale family for a long time, and I will never forget all the love, support and motivation they gave us.’
Tyndale St-Georges’ Childhood Department has been operating for over 20 years, offering educational support for families with young children ages 0-5. In a safe and nonjudgmental environment, the Department focuses on the power of play, storytelling, and early stimulation as well as nurturing secure attachment with caregivers to foster healthy childhood development.
Typically, around 75 children (often accompanied by their parents) are presented with various learning opportunities, including language acquisition, socialization, fine and gross motor skill development. Along with early literacy, these skills significantly improves their school readiness. Early Childhood activities provide children and their parents opportunities to bond, communicate and grow as a community, and to feel a strong sense of belonging. The families served by the Tyndale St-Georges’ Early Childhood Department represent 45 different countries and languages, creating a diverse mosaic of experience and knowledge. Tyndale St-Georges plays an active and significant role in contributing to better futures for the children who participate in the Early Childhood Department while providing much needed support for their families.
Communities and Community Centres play an important role in every aspect of our lives. Being a part of a community helps us feel safe, secure, and united, especially during a crisis. A strong community of people looking out for our best interests can ease stress and feelings of loneliness and provide opportunities for growth and experience. This is what Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre has been doing for over 90 years; providing residents of Little Burgundy with social and academic support and fostering a strong sense of belonging through programs that inform, empower, unite, and reinforce wellbeing.
The pandemic has provided us the opportunity to better understand our essential human needs. We are grateful that technology enabled the continuation of services for some of our programs. However, the truth is that technology alone is not the panacea for a future crisis. People need people. Studies have shown that in-person services especially in education and social services are more effective than virtual services, the magic is in the human connection.
Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre’s programs strengthen family bonds, educate, and offer valuable community information, connect families in the neighborhood and improve the wellbeing of participants. Your continued support of Tyndale St-George’s youth programs ensures that these young families have the community and academic support they need for the healthy development of the next generation.
