Our roots

LIFT is a PCRS-Vancouver Board of Education (VBE) partnership that grew out of two years of community consultation, research and dialogue in the Mt. Pleasant and Little Mountain neighbourhoods. This process identified low graduation rates as a major issue. LIFT was designed to address this problem based on the proven success of the Pathways to Education  (www.pathwaystoeducation.ca) and the Britannia Homework Club. We have tailored these models to meet the needs of local youth and their families.

 

Our model

LIFT provides tutoring, mentorship, recreation and targeted financial support to 150 East Vancouver youth in grades 6 to 9, with a special focus on the pivotal grade 7 to 8 transition.  

LIFT tutors are university students and professionals; site coordinators are BC-certified teachers with extensive youth-work experience. Subjects of focus are Math, Science, and Humanities.

Mentorship is provided formally and informally, through connections with tutors, as well as through group games that help to build group work skills. Youth engage in workshops, career mentoring, and leadership opportunities, and participate in special events including skating, hiking, and museum visits.

 

Outreach

LIFT is able to target the students who need it the most before they get to high school. This is accomplished by working hand-in-hand with community schools staff at the elementary and high school level.