Bridge Program

Making a positive difference the lives of newcomer youth.

The Surrey School District (SD 36) WELCOME CENTRE provides many programs for newcomer students and families to help children and youth succeed in school and develop social connections.  The SFU Surrey-TD Community Engagement Centre works with the SD 36 Welcome Centre to offer support and mentorship to English Language Learners in high school through the Bridge Program.

This program targets newcomer youth aged 13 to 19 years within their first 3 years in Canada, who have arrived with one or more of the following experiences/barriers:

• Significant literacy and education gaps 
• Significant social and communication barriers due to language and cultural differences 
• Mental and emotional issues as a result of traumatic experiences.