Friends of Simon

Who We Are

Universities in Canada are associated with teaching and research, but they also have a great capacity for service to their communities. Friends of Simon, an award-winning SFU Faculty of Education initiative, brings together an attitude of inquiry, our instructional knowledge, and our students, in order to provide afterschool programs for children and youth in the public education system. 

Friends of Simon recruits, prepares, and assigns university students as literacy tutors in the Lower Mainland, particularly with newcomer K-12 students. With our cooperating sites, Friends of Simon works to increase school success through after-school programs in small group and individualized settings. Instruction is based on current trends in pedagogy and tutors receive their training and supervision from members of the Faculty of Education who themselves are involved in educational research. Friends of Simon is an SFU Faculty of Education outreach project supported by the United Way British Columbia (UWBC)David Mowafaghian Foundation, The Gadhia Family, Porte Industries, Vancouver Foundation, Vancity Credit Union, City of Vancouver, North Growth Foundation, Ted Rogers Scholarship Fund, William and Nona Heaslip Foundation, Employees of Rogers B.C., Dr. Steve Marshall, SFU Surrey-TD Community Engagement Centre (CEC)Heritage Education Funds, and Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan.

Next FOS Hiring Drive: TBA Fall 2024

Want to become a FOS tutor? The next FOS hiring drive will be announced in Fall 2024 and will be posted via MyInvolvement ! Successful applicants of the next hiring drive will be offered a position starting Spring 2024. Further information can be found on the "Prospective Tutors Tab" or our instagram account: @sfu_fos. Applicants must apply through MyInvolvement to be considered. We look forward to reading your application! Gain meaningful experience & leadership skills while having fun! Please email us at fosimon@sfu.ca if you have any questions and allow 3-5 business days for a response.

This opportunity is recognized on the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), an official University document that tracks students’ co-curricular involvement at SFU.

Program Evalution

Our Annual Friends of Simon Evaluation Report (2022/2023) has been released that outlines and highlights the impact FOS has on our community and students. See below for the downloadable PDF.

Our Mission - Draw Forth All

We ourselves learn as we teach and we redesign Friends of Simon in light of our experience conducting instruction. Our mission is summarized by the phrase, Draw Forth All, which combines the Latin root of the word education ("to draw forth") with the moral commitment of Nobel Laureate and SFU honouree, Bishop Desmond Tutu, specifically his call to serve and honour all people.

Teaching is often seen as the transmission of knowledge, in the manner of filling up empty minds. Education, however, is a process that builds on the prior experience of the learner and evokes new learning through engagement, questioning, and acknowledgment of the individual.

— Paul Shaker, Professor emeritus and Friends of Simon Director.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

NEWS

www.friendsofsimon.ca