Every April, EPIC hosts a Volunteer Appreciation Day banquet for all the Youth Peer tutor / mentor volunteers as well as the EPIC Board of Directors and staff. In 2008, the dinner was held at the Quality Inn in Sydney. First, we gathered in the hotel pub for non-alcoholic punch and socializing. Then we went to the banquet room for dinner, volunteer recognition and games! Wendy MacDonald, Volunteer Coordinator at the time, did a wonderful job of planning the event which was enjoyed by all.
Information
Educational Program Innovations Charity Society (EPIC) is a registered Canadian charity and a Nova Scotian incorporated society located on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
Since inception in 1996, 98.7% of EPIC funding has gone directly to charitable activities
National RecognitionDonner Foundation Award for Excellence in Delivery of Social Services
- Services for Children -
2009 WINNER
2008 FINALIST
2007 WINNER
People Say…
"Youth Peer Program has forever changed my...life. As a volunteer and now an assistant...I am more outgoing, my leadership skills have sharpened, and I am always keeping an open, accepting mind. This job made me more positive. I am on the right path to becoming a teacher and I am so grateful. No job has been more challenging yet SO rewarding in my life. I am thankful to have ever had the opportunity to work with such wonderful people for an amazing program." - Assistant leaving for the B.Ed program in Halifax
"My son always felt different than other people his age and was picked on relentlessly in school. With this program, he benefits from the social aspect more than you can know. He gets attention and young people actually talk to him and make him feel respected and accepted within a group. His self-esteem is improving and he's always smiling when he gets home from tutoring." - mother of son, age 13
This program "helped me develop a lot of patience for other relationships I have in my life with my mom, brothers, niece (10 years old) etc." - Youth Peer Volunteer Tutor
"Some children need to get away to learn. The environment at Youth Peer is so open minded to children's needs that they grow and actually want to continue learning because they are complimented and encouraged on an individual basis. The one-on-one makes them feel important and they are greeted warmly and feel they are missed if they do not attend." - CB Victoria Regional School Board
"The volunteers show them there is good in the world. They actually show them the good in themselves through positive reinforcement. They raise the bar for them, but not so far that they cannot reach it." - Nova Scotia Addiction Services
Question to Tutor: Would you like to come back in September? If so, why? Answer: Yes, to help kids! It feels great when a kid learns something because of you.
Educational Program Innovations Charity Society - Barry N. Waldman, founder
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