They say it takes a village to raise a child.
In the case of the Manitoba School Improvement Program, it takes a Peaceful Village ….
“Community for us means building resilient individuals that, despite where they come from, despite their language, their backgrounds, you build resilient people that can belong, that can succeed,” said Daniel Swaka, executive director of Peaceful Village.
“For us, that is community building: building a community of learners, a community of volunteers—a community of leaders.”
The Manitoba School Improvement Program (MSIP)-Peaceful Village is dedicated to the advancement of education to marginalized youth, particularly immigrants and refugees.
The program began in 2009, with learning centres embedded inside two Winnipeg schools: Gordon Bell High School and Hugh John MacDonald School.
“Back then, youths that were coming from war-torn countries, some of them were falling into cracks, into gangs, drug dealing and all that … but they wanted to stay in school,” executive director Daniel Swaka explained. “So MSIP (explored) ways how those youth can be supported so … they can belong and become contributing members of Canadian society.”
Today, MSIP-Peaceful Village operates learning centres inside six schools in all quadrants of the city, as well as a community hub on Wall Street, which opened in 2011.
For three hours every day, from Monday to Friday, students come into Peaceful Village for academic support, learning materials, food, and creative activities.
Hot, healthy meals are served to every kid that comes through the door.
As many as 400 students attend every day across the seven sites.
Swaka said when newcomer families first move to Winnipeg, language and cultural differences are just a couple of the multitude of barriers they face. Some have hurdles to overcome in order to secure work, while others may need to upgrade certifications to continue the career they held in their home country.
Many refugees are coming from crisis as well, adding complex trauma to an already-overwhelming situation.
Finally, hunger is another huge stressor as families work to navigate their new life.
Nearly a third of newcomers to Manitoba over the last five years are living in poverty and a local organization recently revealed 25% of its food bank clients are newcomers to Canada.
Peaceful Village aims to take some of these pressures off families by supporting kids as best they can—keeping them fed, inspired, and in school.
Kids like Souline and Abdalhanan, who started coming to Peaceful Village in 2017 after their family moved to Winnipeg from Lebanon.
“It was scary. I was nervous, going to school, making new friends, seeing new people,” 15-year-old Abdal remembered, adding he found—and continues to find—a huge sense of comfort at Peaceful Village
“It definitely makes me feel like I’m welcomed,” he said. “Knowing I have a place that I can come to and be free … helps me a lot.”
Souline recalled being welcomed like family into the Village and encouraged to take part in the various activities and field trips the centre has to offer.
“I did not know anything, not even English. I just made new friends, then I did not feel lonely at all,” she said. “I was drawing a lot, dancing, performing and stuff. I don’t know what kind of memories I would have if I did not come here. The trips, the food, the people…”
“Our youth don't have a lot of opportunities given to them,
so when they come to Peaceful Village we want them to have those opportunities and grow.”
Program coordinator Michael Roberts said The Peaceful Village tries hard to offer a variety of options many parents wouldn’t likely be able to afford.
Sports, performing arts, dance, music, field trips in the city and even overnight camping trips are all part of the Village experience throughout the year.
“I get thank yous every day. Thank you so much for having us, thank you for the food. They’re very, very grateful,” said Roberts. “Our youth don’t have a lot of opportunities given to them, so when they come to Peaceful Village, we want them to have those opportunities and grow.
“We want them to just shoot for the stars.
We don’t want them to think that I can’t do it … We want them to say I can do it.”
Souline credits her years spent at The Peaceful Village for helping give her not only a sense of belonging, but a sense of direction in her life.
The Peaceful Village’s scholarship incentive—a jewel in the Village model—offers its youth hundreds of dollars toward their post-secondary education for every year they respectfully attend the program.
Souline graduated high school in 2022 and, in part with scholarship money she earned at the Village, now attends University of Winnipeg in the Faculty of Arts, with a goal of going into medicine.
“I actually don’t know what I would be doing if I didn’t go to Peaceful Village,” she said. “I sort of would have been lost.”
Although still only 15, Abdal is already thinking about life after he graduates—a reality for him because he’s able to earn some of that scholarship money himself.
“Knowing that I don’t have to make my parents work really hard…,” he said. “It really can help you and your family.”
What’s he thinking about taking in university?
“I’m basically just taking the first step that my sister took,” he said. “I want to be just like her.”
Swaka said he is grateful for United Way Winnipeg donors, who contribute to the positive well-being of hundreds of Peaceful Village kids every year.
“Without United Way Winnipeg’s support from the onset, we would have not reached where we are today,” he said. “I want to tell donors that I see the impact. I see the impact on daily basis. I want to assure all the donors that if you are contributing a dollar, you do make a difference. It’s a valuable investment that you might not see—but I’m here to attest of the support that United Way Winnipeg gives to the Village to support its work.”
