Sedin twins fund after school programming for at-risk Surrey kids
Program offers confidence and skill building activities for kids aged six to 12
Vancouver Canuck players Daniel and Henrik Sedin have teamed up with the Surrey School District to help at-risk kids develop leadership skills.
The famous hockey twins are helping to fund a new after-school program that will offer a variety of activities designed to build confidence.
"That's what you want your kids to have, to have faith in themselves and to trust themselves. That is a big problem nowadays with kids," said Daniel Sedin.
The Sedin Family Foundation, along with several other donors, provided the financial fuel to power Surrey's "Clubhouse 36", designed for children aged six to 12.
The program is unique because it offers programming all year long, said Pat Horstead the Assistant Superintendent of the Surrey School District.
"There is after school programming and there will be opportunities for kids to be involved in full-day programming during spring break," she said.
The programs offered through the Surrey schools in collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Vancouver focus on science, engineering, math, technology, arts and sports.
"We want our kids to build that self-esteem and develop that resiliency. They all have incredible goals. It is our job to see if we can find ways to take down those obstacles and let them be successful," said Horstead.
While Surrey's "Clubhouse 36" after-school program is officially launching today, the program was piloted at three inner city schools over the summer.
There is enough funding to offer programs for the next three years — twice a week at Holly Elementary, Lena Shaw Elementary and Georges Vanier during the school year, along with full-day programming during spring and summer breaks.
To hear the full interview with the Sedins, listen to the audio labelled Clubhouse 36 launches in Surrey with the CBC's Rick Cluff on The Early Edition.