Surrey School Seeks Support for Families Amid Language Diversity

Guildford Park Secondary in Surrey, Canada, is facing significant challenges as it strives to support its diverse student body, which speaks an impressive 84 native languages. This remarkable linguistic diversity reflects the school’s high immigrant and refugee population, but it also presents unique difficulties for families adjusting to life in Canada. Principal Marti Player highlights the pressing needs of these families, who often seek assistance with basic necessities such as food and clothing.

With the recent cancellation of a provincial affordability fund worth approximately $3.1 million to Surrey schools, the situation has become more desperate. Player noted, “It was a regular occurrence for families to come in and ask for help with food. Now it’s gone.” The loss of this funding has profoundly impacted the school’s ability to provide for those in need, with families increasingly relying on community support.

Last year, the Vancouver Sun’s Adopt-A-School campaign stepped in, providing $183,080 in emergency funds to support schools like Guildford Park. Player expressed hope for similar assistance this year, stating, “I think that’s a big part of what we will use The Vancouver Sun’s fund for because our families desperately need it.” The urgency of this need is evident, as students often arrive at school suffering from hunger.

“Today we had a student in our medical room feeling light-headed,” Player recounted. “When we ask if they’ve eaten today, the answer is often ‘No.’” The school has implemented a breakfast program, supported by local firefighters, that feeds around 100 children daily. However, the rising cost of food and the loss of funding have made it increasingly challenging for families, many of whom live in overcrowded conditions.

Player emphasized the need for winter clothing, stating, “People from other countries are not used to how cold it gets, so we want to make sure they all have coats for winter.” Guildford Park aims to raise $5,000 through the Adopt-A-School program to assist families in securing food and clothing.

One Grade 12 student, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared her personal journey of struggle and healing through the support of the school and Adopt-A-School. Arriving from Pakistan in 2020 after fleeing Afghanistan, she faced identity challenges and social isolation. “I had no friends because people there don’t like Afghans,” she recalled.

Finding solace in the school’s Poetry Club, she wrote a poem exploring her identity. Fortunately, funding from the Vancouver Sun allowed her and her peers to attend a poetry festival in Vancouver, where she presented her work. “It was really healing for me to let it all out and let people hear it,” she said.

The student’s poem reflects her complex identity and longing for connection. Excerpts reveal her struggle with belonging and her journey toward self-acceptance in Canada.

No administration fees are deducted from donations to the Adopt-A-School program, ensuring that every contribution directly benefits the schools. Community members can support this initiative through online donations or by calling 604-813-8673.

As Guildford Park Secondary continues to navigate the challenges posed by its diverse population and the economic pressures faced by families, the need for community support has never been more critical. The school stands as a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of unity in the face of adversity.