Latest News

Richmond students fix bikes to give back

By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Published 2:55 PST, Mon February 24, 2020

Last Updated: 3:04 PST, Mon February 24, 2020

New immigrants to Richmond—including refugees—often struggle to integrate themselves into communities when they first arrive.

The Richmond School District’s Settlement Workers In Schools (SWIS) program strives daily to offer assistance. During the course of a year, they help about 2,500 clients in Richmond alone, says SWIS manager Rebeca Avendano.

“We’ve had this program supporting newcomers—not just refugees, but all kinds of newcomers—for over 10 years now,” says Avendano.

She says the more people learn about programs like this, the more they want to contribute. Schools often sponsor families in need during the holidays, but other times of the year as well. They are anonymous.

“Culturally, there’s a lot of shame associated with not having things and being given things,” Avendano explains. “It’s very important that we do this with dignity.”

For the last five years, a Richmond teacher and his students have helped to ease the transition. While governments provide refugees with initial stipends that covers basic needs like furniture, they are often missing other necessities such as transportation.

Simon Nowak and Inas Elmenbbawi (a staff member with SWIS) initiated a project to repair old bicycles while working together at McNair Secondary in 2015. Now teaching technology at Steveston-London, Nowak’s classes continue the undertaking. Previously, retired Richmond High teacher Fred Dietrich oversaw a similar project.

When Nowak began teaching Power Mechanics to Grade 9 and 10 students at McNair, he figured it would be a good introduction to mechanics for students—and a way to give back to the community.

“At the time, Richmond teachers had a buy and sell forum and put up a couple of messages asking for bikes, regardless of if they were ridable or not, or even any bike parts,” explains Nowak. Now, they source bikes from students or around the city.

Since he reinitiated the program, Nowak and his students have fixed 19 bikes. He says the learning opportunity is a useful one. 

“Working on bikes helps (students) understand how to use tools properly. It also teaches them problem solving skills needed as we move forward with the course and more advanced units like small engines and automotive,” says Nowak.

Adds Avendano: “They’re not just learning the technical skills of fixing a bike—which is important—but they’re also giving back to their community and helping newcomers.”

Thanks in part to Nowak and his students, new immigrants and refugees are finding their way into new communities. Students are able to give back while encountering hands-on learning opportunities in the classroom.

See more canada news

See All

See more international news

  See All
© 2024 Richmond Sentinel News Inc. All rights reserved. Designed by Intelli Management Group Inc.