Making new friends may be a challenge for any new student, but try doing it while learning a new language.
Mary Vagay found speaking English and making friends the two biggest challenges when she moved to Canada two years and eight months ago (it took her only a moment to calculate).
May Chalermwat, Vagay’s classmate at North Saanich middle school, added “fitting in” to her list of struggles when she came from Thailand two years ago.
Recently they learned that their words matter. They have an impact across Greater Victoria.
The Grade 8 students at North Saanich middle school are shared winners of the Big Change Award at the Youth Now Awards presented by the United Way of Greater Victoria.
Chalermwat and Vagay were among 15 youth at the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society who got together to create a theatre project called Where is Home? dealing with the difficulties immigrant youth face. It combined a collage of scenes that reflect the challenges a newcomer would face including discrimination, bullying at school, conflicts in home life, financial worries and the long-term effects of trauma.
Strong academics, Chalermwat and Vagay tend to the quiet side during class, so teacher Carolin McDonnell was slightly surprised at their performance.
“When I saw them in their theatre presentation, they’re really strong performers,” she said.
The creators and cast shared personal experiences publicly in hopes of affecting change.
“It could change how they treat students and change the school environment,” said Vagay of a performance done for principals in the area.
“As a result it (can cause) a big change to the other students,” Chalermwat agreed.
They performed the project 11 times across Greater Victoria for a variety of audiences and venues including North Saanich middle school.
“We even had some parents and teachers attend,” said Darcy McNee, the English as a Second Language teacher at North Saanich middle school. “They thought it was really powerful. It opened their eyes.”
The project also had a side effect for Vagay and Chalermwat.
“I saw huge growth in confidence that really spilled into their learning,” McNee said.
Vagay and Chalermwat agree, they gained confidence and learned their words matter.
