Providers of the HIPPY program from around the world came together at DIVERSEcity
DIVERSEcity welcomed international delegates from the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program at DIVERSEcity, October 28, 2024.
HIPPY is an international program, led in Canada by Mothers Matter Canada, that empowers vulnerable, often isolated mothers with the tools and confidence to prepare their preschool children for success in school. DIVERSEcity runs the HIPPY program in Surrey, Delta and White Rock for permanent resident families, offering supportive home visitations, and workshops and gatherings to foster community connection.
Neelam Sahota, CEO, DIVERSEcity, welcomed the representatives from around the world, which included Miriam Westheimer and Benny Feifel from HIPPY International, Amy Robichaud, CEO, and Natasha Irvine, Chief Communications Officer, of Mothers Matter Canada, in addition to HIPPY program representatives from other countries including Clare Seddon of Brotherhood of St. Laurence (Australia), Mark Veale and Yvette Sievers of Great Potentials Foundation (New Zealand), and Cecilia Valdes and Carolina Andueza from Fundación CMPC (Chile).
The delegation came to DIVERSEcity to connect and learn more about our unique, multilingual approach to our HIPPY program, funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
“The sharing of best practices for HIPPY between our different countries is important for us to learn from each other,” said Neelam Sahota.
HIPPY program at DIVERSEcity is multilingual
Susan Bhatti, Senior Manager, Child & Family Services, at DIVERSEcity, said, “We are unique in our HIPPY service delivery because we are delivering in so many languages at the same time. For example, during the workshop that the delegation is sitting in on today, we have four different translators, simultaneously translating the English-language workshop.”
In total, the HIPPY program at DIVERSEcity supports mothers from 18 countries and 12 languages.
The HIPPY delegation joined an informational workshop for mothers on energy savings at DIVERSEcity’s Early Years Centre, while their children took part in playtime, singing and learning with our early childhood education leaders.
Doua Amoura, Manager, HIPPY, at DIVERSEcity, says the results speak for themselves for the 99 families they are currently helping, 61 per cent of which are refugees. “We’ve seen the difference in the families from when they started the HIPPY program to today as they are navigating systems, becoming more confident and getting out in the community.”
Amy Robichaud, CEO, Mothers Matter Canada, added: “We know that when mothers are connected to community, opportunities and resources, they lift their families. We are so proud to work in partnership with over 40 organizations, including DIVERSEcity to ensure the HIPPY program is available to newcomer families across the country.”
Learn more about HIPPY at DIVERSEcity here.
Learn more about HIPPY across Canada here.