The Salvation Army Bethany Hope Centre Celebrates Learning Coach Program Graduates
Young parents are reaching their educational and employment goals with the support of the Bethany Hope Centre Learning Coach Program in Ottawa.
The program helps young parents finish high school and continue to post-secondary education or explore career options, while providing wrap around services to enable their success.
This year’s graduation ceremony held on June 28th, 2022, at Bethany Hope Centre celebrated two young women. Marcella Miron received her high school diploma and Farah Dridi, a former graduate, received the Hariot Munro Community Spirit Award this year. The ceremony also celebrates the achievements and hard work of all participants in the program.
Program participants can achieve their accreditation in a variety of ways, through supportive school boards such as Quinte Adult Education, Ottawa Carlton District School Board and ILC online out of Toronto.
“We encourage the participants to come in and use our computers with Wi-Fi if they wish and get the support they need,” said Leah Barrie, Bethany Hope Centre’s Independent Learning Coach. “We have tutors on-site that provide assistance and encouragement.”
Leah explains there are many barriers for young parents trying to complete their education. Some of the program participants do not have the means for childcare and do not have access to internet and technology at home. Many young parents are not able to attend a full-time day school because they have children to care for. This is where Bethany Hope Centre’s wrap around services are able to support parents while they reach their goals.
While studying in the Learning Coach computer room, parents can leave their children in the care of Bethany Hope Centre playroom staff where they know their children will be cared for. They also have access to a free hot lunch three days a week. The Bethany Hope Centre also offers free non-clinical counselling services, pre-natal and parenting classes, a food share program and cooking classes to support the whole family.
“Having a high school diploma gives young parents a sense of accomplishment and pride and opens doors to so many opportunities that will help provide for their families,” said Leah.
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This year’s Learning Coach Program high school graduate Marcella Miron, now 28, joined the program in 2016.
“It has been such a struggle for me to get my diploma especially since my 8-year-old son has a weakened immune system, so I had to put my education on hold during the pandemic while I home schooled him,” said Marcella. “But I’m just over the moon having completed high school and I am a ball of emotions! I did it for my son; he is my biggest motivation. I also wanted to prove it to myself and my family.”
Marcella says the Learning Coach Team helped keep her motivated.
“Former teacher Phil Wakeford pushed me to keep going and he knew when I needed encouragement and when I didn’t. Leah was such a positive support and always reminded me that I could do it and that I deserved to be successful,” said Marcella. “My family, my best friend and fiancé, have supported me too and they were at my graduation.”
Marcella says the playroom and the hot lunches were a big help for both her and her son while she was studying.
“I have a lot of trust issues, but I always knew I didn’t have to worry about leaving my son with the Bethany Hope Centre staff. I knew I could study and if there was a problem they would come and get me. My son was always happy when I picked him up. The lunches were also really convenient, especially if I forgot my lunch when I was rushing to pack everything for the day.”
As a new parent, Marcella says she also participated in counselling programs and parenting classes. “The staff made me feel comfortable to talk with them. They make you feel like it’s okay to have problems and they make you feel cared for. They reassured me that I was doing things right and that I’m a good mom,” said Marcella. “I have never met a group of people so caring and supportive.”
As for the future, Marcella is now looking at applying to Algonquin College and studying social work. “I want to be a counsellor and help troubled youth,” said Marcella, who is now looking forward to a bright future for herself and her family.
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This year’s winner of the Hariot Munro Community Spirit Award is 19-year-old Farah Dridi, who is also a former graduate of the Learning Coach Program.
The award was presented at Bethany Hope Centre Learning Coach Program graduation in memory of the late Hariot Munro, who volunteered for many years at Bethany Hope Centre, developing life-skills and post-natal parenting programs.
The Hariot Munro Community Spirit award is given annually to a Bethany Hope Centre participant who is compassionate and has a general spirit of giving just as Hariot did.
Farah first came to Bethany Hope Centre in 2019 when she was pregnant with her now 2-year-old son. As a single mom she came to Bethany Hope Centre to get help finishing high school.
“I felt like I was being left out at my high school because I was the only pregnant student. I was very distracted from my studies because I was worried that everyone was judging me,” said Farah. “The staff at Bethany Hope Centre Learning Coach Program were very accepting and encouraging and they helped me focus on my work.”
With the help from the Learning Coach Program’s, former teacher Phil Wakeford, Farah was able to complete 15 credits in 2 months. Farah continued to follow the curriculum at her high school but was doing the work at home and through The Learning Coach Program. While she was studying at Bethany Hope Center her son spent time in the playroom.
“When I would get distracted Phil and I would go for a walk and we would take the microscope because I was very interested in biology,” said Farah. “He was a great teacher and very encouraging.”
Farah also participated in a number of other programs including cooking, parenting and pre-natal classes.
Farah graduated from high school last December and started at Algonquin College in January 2022, where she was studying Police Foundations. She recently switched to Early Childhood Education.
“My time at Bethany Hope Centre was always amazing, and I can still go back there to use the computers and for support,” said Farah.
For more information about the Bethany Hope Centre please visit www.bethanyhopecentre.org or to donate visit www.salvationarmy.ca
By: Caroline Franks
