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By Narayan Mitra
A LOW PROFILE group is making a big impact upon impressionable high school
students in the Okanagan.
Under its appropriately-named parent organization, Impact Society, Heroes
entered the doors of three schools 18 months ago. The group’s purpose was to reinforce the natural strengths of the young people, and
unleash them for personal and communal effectiveness.
Since then, 12 projects have been conducted – and requests for more keep coming. The group’s vision statement is “to fill our communities with Heroes that will lead the next generation . . .
[and] to build confidence, character and integrity in the youth of our nation.” This mandate has been overwhelmingly welcomed by the school administrations
where Heroes has found its foothold.
The Calgary based Impact Society has been operating since 1994. It offers many
programs to fulfil its mission. In the Okanagan, the program is delivered by
regional coordinator Jennifer Gumienny and her team of trained volunteers.
Students are taught in 12 to 14 one-hour sessions in a school or community
setting. Gumienny explained that “the effectiveness of Heroes is measured through the Developmental Strengths
Framework used by Resiliency Initiatives Canada.”
Before and after the program, each student goes through an online assessment of
their belief systems and values, covering 31 different areas of their lives
that play a role in the resiliency of the child.
At completion, evaluators are able to chart out the difference Heroes has made.
They are also able to measure which areas are negatively affecting the student’s resiliency. Such an evaluation works as a tool for schools to identify which
of their students are at-risk, and which areas need targeting.
Course outlines are categorized under Confidence, Character, and Integrity – with each section interacting with the others in areas such as self-discovery,
making fresh choices, powers of relationship and respect.
Gumienny is excited by results achieved so far. These include improved school
performance, increased resiliency, better family communication, sense of
purpose, and even some reduction in crime.
Heroes does not claim to be an evangelistic program, but rather a ministry aimed
at bringing God’s heart of love and principles of truth into the classroom. Through interactive
and experiential activities, students discover their unique abilities, and
begin to see their intrinsic value.
Testimonials keep coming regularly from educators and community supporters.
One school vice-principal writes: “The Heroes program is well-designed and professionally presented. Instructors
created genuine connections with the students . . . Students credited the
program for their more positive attitude toward others, toward school and
toward life . . . I strongly recommend this to other schools.”
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A teacher from Constable Neil Bruce Middle School in Kelowna commented: “Excellent – very professional. Started and finished very strong. Hope to see you next year.”
With increasing cognizance of the life-building work being carried out by
Heroes, business and community groups are coming forward to help out. Impact
Society announced a recent tie-in with energy giant TransCanada, as a part of the latter’s recognition of “improving lives, increasing hope and creating new beginnings.”
Initially, the support would be for two years, with the possibility of extension
by another three. This would help the Society to certify up to 4,500 school
teachers as prospective instructors across Canada.
Half of Heroes’ funding comes from schools or other host groups, with local support covering
the other half. It costs $85 per student to experience the program. Individual
student sponsorships or monthly giving are always appreciated and needed.
Perhaps the best commendation of the program comes from an expert in the field
of building resiliency in youth, Dr. Wayne Hammond:
“Essential to positive school performance and conduct by students are the
characteristics of positive perception of self and others, an understanding of
one’s strengths and limitations and a strong sense of hope.” Heroes, he added, “is unique in that it invites students to understand and build their . . .
ability to achieve genuine success through developing those internal values
that provide consistency in nurturing respect of self and others . . .
“As a parent, I would embrace the opportunity for my children to experience this
invitation to become a ‘hero,’ as it reflects my goal of preparing them to confidently believe in themselves
and to constructively embrace the adventure of life.”
Contact: 250.808.4376 or impactsociety.com.
September 2009
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