A big thank you to Saskatoon’s Affinity Credit Union for helping Nest offer a specialized language training program for refugees in the city.

Affinity Credit Union gave Nest $3,200 to pay for four scholarships to the English Language Enhancement and Academic Preparation (E-LEAP) course offered through the U of S Language Centre. Nest will pay for up to eight more scholarships to enable 12 refugee participants to take the course.

The intensive language program prepares refugees for academic studies at the U of S, SaskPolytechnic or other post-secondary institutions.

Nest Saskatoon decided to sponsor the E-LEAP course through the U of S Language Centre because many of the group’s recent refugee arrivals want to pursue post-secondary studies.

“Nearly all of the Afghan refugees Nest sponsored in recent years are university educated, but their studies and credentials are not recognized here,” Nest spokesperson Gwen Lancaster explains. “They want to advance their education and careers. The E-LEAP program will help them do that.”

Nest member Laurie Anderson, the co-ordinator of the E-LEAP program, says the class provides an excellent opportunity for students to become acquainted with Canadian education and improve their academic English.

Twelve refugees are registered for the class which starts October 22.