brenda strafford centre

During the past couple of summers Youth Volunteer Corps volunteers have had the privilege of spending their summer days at this second stage women’s shelter. This shelter provides a safe community for abused women and their children. The first resource for many abused mothers is an emergency shelter, but these shelters can only offer them a short stay. That’s where a second stage shelter comes in. The Brenda Strafford centre offers women and their children a longer-term stay, 6 months to be exact.

The philosophy of the Brenda Strafford Centre is to promote the self-confidence and independence of the mothers through weekly counseling sessions. There is also a program for the children that reside at the centre and many YVC volunteers have had the opportunity of helping out with this childcare program. Every Tuesday and Thursday of every week during the summer, volunteers spend the day with the rambunctious, energetic and loveable children of the shelter. Games and arts and crafts are some of fun activities the volunteers and the children have the chance to partake in. Participants in the childcare program, volunteers and children alike, also have the chance to go on field trips to such places as Calaway Park, Heritage Park and the Calgary Zoo. It’s amazing that the volunteers become role models for the children even after spending only two days with them. The fact that the children look up to the volunteers and develop such a bond with them truly makes this project unique. At the end of the day volunteers are left with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction from having spent the day making some truly wonderful children happy.

The best prerequisite for volunteers is a sincere interest in making a contribution, one child at a time. Volunteers must have the ability to listen to what the children have to say, to make the feel important and valued. Volunteers must not be judgmental, but should be open, friendly and reliable. But most importantly volunteers should be willing to laugh and have fun with the children of Brenda Strafford and act as proper role models for them.

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