Ameliorating these situations led us to two high school in Regina: Balfour Collegiate, which houses the Shirley Schneider Support Center (SSSC) and Cornwall Alternative School (CAS) for at risk and dysfunctional children. The pregnant and parenting high school teens at SSSC and at-risk kids at CAS, faced the same problem: the high probability of dropping out and not completing high school. Our desire was to help preclude that from happening. So, we instituted:

Learning in the 21^st Century relies significantly on computers. Students need then for learning, research and assignment completion. Without access to computers, the student is most likely not to succeed. Most of the girls in these two high schools lacked the computer access they needed to research, learn and complete assignments. Furthermore, many of them were from poor families and often did not eat breakfast or lunch or have adequate food at home. It is difficult to concentrate and learn on an empty stomach, especially when you are pregnant or nursing a baby. Therefore, it was imperative for AWE to focus on providing these important and essential needs of computer access and well as food for the girls, and diapers and formular for their babies. The benefits and ramifications of good nourishing food for pregnant and nursing mothers go far beyond education. They impact the fetus and baby development, and the girls’ mental health. Please read more about these under “Literacy Programs” and “The High School Completion Program”

The next group of disadvantaged and underprivileged females we looked into were. previous stay at home Moms who wanted to return to the workforce after their kids were grown but found the workplace had changed. They needed computer skills, but could not afford the fees at for profit classes. Furthermore, for many these women, the starting point of the classes were too high for them to adequately comprehend what was being taught. We also had women who were exiting women shelters, women who became single parents for various reasons, women who wanted to learn computer skills to help their kids with homework, and female new comers to Canada who needed computer skills to learn English.

We created a computer skills curriculum that met these needs and which the pace was student driven. Just like our High School Completion Program, the benefits went far beyond the obvious. The women very much enjoyed meeting other women with whom they had common interests. Some were very proud of themselves for mastering the computer skills by the end of the classes. All these resulted in increased positive self esteem and self confidence. Please learn more about our “Computer Skills Program” under “Literacy Programs”

AWE’s mission to provide women access to success enhancing tools does not have to stop with digital tools. Since we could not provide in person learning because of the pandemic, we searched for other important success enhancing tools that are amenable to online learning. As the saying goes; Knowledge Is Power.  Therefore, in collaboration with Conexus Credit Union, we provided a three-month series of financial literacy zoom seminars that taught women how to manage money. The presenters informed on the different types of Bank Accounts and their usefulness. They presented and informed about different types of investments ranging from ordinary savings account to GICs, RRSPs, Tax free Savings Accounts, Stock Markets trading etc., how they work, their benefits and risks. Here is what a participant said:

I learned a lot. I will definitely visit these ladies to get more detailed and personalized information about money management. As the cost of everything keeps going up, you can never know too much about how to manage what you have. Thanks to Amakon for providing these seminars

We also collaborated with the City of Regina’s Horticulture Division to provide a series of zoom seminars on how gardening and being participants in growing the food we eat can enhance our health and the environment. It was another three months series of zoom learning. The ladies informed on how even apartment dwellers can garden. They presented on how gardening positively impacts the environment, and health. They educated participants on the different types of vegetables and fruits that grow well in Saskatchewan, when and how to grow them for the best harvests. They spoke about how and when to prune trees, the different fruit trees that grow well together, those that need others for cross pollination, and how to keep bugs out of our plants, produce, fruits and ornamental trees. We learned a lot. Here is what one of the participants said:

I am so glad I logged in. This has really opened my eyes to all the fruits and crops I didn’t know we could grow in Saskatchewan. Were they ever knowledgeable?