Programs and Resources
Eritrean Community Cultural and Language School Program
History
The Eritrean languages and cultural awareness school was established in the late 80's when the first Eritrean refugees started coming to Canada and Manitoba. The school was co-organized with the Eritrean Community in Winnipeg Inc. The aim was to maintain and preserve the cultural Heritage of Eritrea among the Eritrean newcomers, teach Eritrean languages to the new emerging Eritrean-Canadian youth, and assist parents in the Eritrean Community in providing a balanced cultural education to children raised in both the Eritrean and Canadian culture.
Administation
The school is administered by the Eritrean Community in Winnipeg Inc. A new parent council will be elected in 2009 to assist with the increasing numbers of Eritrean families and children in Winnipeg.
Mission, Curriculum and Ongoing Efforts
The mission of the school has remained consistent since its'inception. The focus is on cultural heritage, awareness, providing support to parents on intergenerational and cross cultural issues and teaching Eritrean history and values. 'A new curriculum is currently under development and will be finalized in summer of 2009. All parents and interested parties, stakeholders and funders are invited to participate.
Parents' Council
In preparing for the new parent council in 2005, the Eritrean community started working on creating a conducive environment for interested members of the community to run the school with an improved curriculum. Cultural awareness and heritage in Educational Seminars with experts from the Eritrean Diaspora were organized at the University of Winnipeg.
The parent council is expected to work on the new curriculum in the summer of 2009. It will include the following componants:
- Tigrigna and Arabic classes
- Cultural awareness of the impact of Eritrean languages on social interaction
- Intergenerational issues and language awareness of nine ethnic groups including Arabic, Tigre and Bilen
- History and geography of Eritrea
- Eritrean music in Tigrigna, Tigre, Arabic, and the nine Eritrean languages
- Dancing classes of the nine Ethnic groups of Eritrea
- Ethinc clothing
- Food, culture, tradition and nutrition
- Sports activities such as the soccer team
- Participation in the West and East Eritrean Canada Festivals
Classes organized in collaboration with SERC, Eritrean Community In Winnipeg Inc., and Labour and Immigration. Parents of various social backround and status, newcomer parents attend 8-10 classes exploring "How to raise Eritrean children". Intergenerational issues, practices among Eritrean culture, parenting challenges, youth expectations and challenges.
Next school Sessions:
Fall Session: September - December, 2009
Spring Session: March - June, 2010
Location: General Wolfe School ( Ellice and Banning)
Registrations: Begining of June 2009 at the offices of the Eritrean Community in Winnipeg Inc. 346 Hargrave street.
For more info please email lkyriak@shaw.ca
A—Heritage and Cultural Programs
Eritrean Languages and Cultural AwarenessCoordinates the functioning of the Eritrean Language and Culture School and teaches the two official Eritrean languages, Tigrigna and Arabic. The School curriculum teachings incorporates tradition and culture of the nine ethnic groups. This is diversified cultural awareness program for children age 6 to 18 that runs every Saturdays, includes also dancing sports and collective activities . The School is run by a twelve member parent council that is elected every two years.About 120 students are registered in the program. The School employees a director and eight teachers and assistants.
Tigrinia Language ResourcesVideo Available. Contact the Eritrean Community in Winnipeg at (204) 786-5637 for more information.
Tigrinia is an East African language spoken in Eritrea and Ethiopia. The Tigrinia alphabet is one of the oldest in the world. Each Tigrinia character has a unique phonetic sound. The alphabet is composed of 32 consonants, with seven vowels for each consonant.
Folklorama
Facilitates and prepares youth and volunteers in participating and sharing rich African culture of Eritrean origin in an annual Manitoba Folklorama Festival. The ECW has been an active member and participant of Folklorama since its beginning. It jointly coordinated activities with Afro-Caribbean pavilion and in the recent years part of African Pavilion
Official Folklorama Web SiteNational Holiday Celebrations
A Wealth of Culture has been brought to Manitoba and Canada. Legendary Musicians live Bands, Arts and Cultural groups. Historical days are celebrated and commemorated in an exemplary African Way. Independence Day, Memorial Day, International Women’s Day. Annual Eritrean Festival in Canada. Historic leaders and representatives of Eritrea’s struggle for Freedom are invited to attend the events and enrich with their presence a vibrant African Community.
Families Programs
Traditional family values and strength being our backbone, ECW strives to keep this cohesiveness among its members. Thus, it organizes, annual summer outings and picnics; provides workshops and information sessions; organizes national holiday celebrations; and facilitates Traditional Coffee Ceremonies for peer support.
Single Mothers Self Reliance Program
Empowering single mothers with special skills and information. Provide special projects di- rected to their needs. Consultation and peer moral support services in their daily challenges.
Youth Programs
Include organizing several sport activities, preparing youth for participating in Folklorama; coordinate summer outings and picnics; provides peer support network that increase self esteem and sense of identity; participate in afterschool tutoring and be positive role models for children; provide youth projects such as movies, photography.
After School and Summer Tutoring Programs
A family oriented community based and youth oriented Program run in coordination with The Newcomers Youth Educational Support Services Coalition. Fifty students are registered to the program and assisted with academic challenges in a youth risk, reducing strategy by providing a safe learning environment; provide peer support network that increase self esteem and sense of identity.
Special Projects and Workshops
Includes sponsorship workshops, Occupational Health and Safety Information workshops; Financial consultation workshops; Parenting and Disciplining; Quilting and photography project; bringing spe- cial guest speakers for specific issues.
Refugees Sponsorship
Sponsoring refugees from war torn areas, provide assistance for special need refugee cases. Assists and facilitates with sponsorship documents.
Resettlement and Integration Services
Assisting new Eritrean immigrants with their unique integration process. In their first phase of settlement, new immigrants feel lost and many are terrified with the sense of overwhelming unknown aspects and cultural shock. They desperately look for any moral support and sense of belongingness from their own people. ECW not only provide such services but also provide assis- tance and empower them with valuable information to ease their concerns regarding housing, health, education, & employment as well as provides workshops as needs arise.
Alphabet Chart
Contact the Eritrean Community in Winnipeg at (204) 786-5637 for more information.
Workplace Safety Resources
Occupational Health Support Program
The Eritrean community In Winnipeg provides an educational and training session in collaboration with the Occupational Health Center. A 16 minute video is available in two Eritrean languages on issues of injury prevention and Worker's Compensation.
The Eritrean Community has four trainers available to answer question and provide support in Arabic and Tigrigna languages.
Download Workplace Health and Safety document in Tigrigna.
