Twenty-six organizations and institutions of the Acadian and francophone community of P.E.I. gathered at the Centre d’éducation Évangéline in Abram-Village recently to discuss existing French-language services and programs for children on the Island and to improve collaboration in regard to these services and programs in the future.
The meeting was organized by the Commission scolaire de langue française (CSLF), P.E.I.’s French-language school board, on behalf of the eight organizations that work in education, early childhood development, support to parents and education awareness.
In addition to the CSLF, the group includes the Fédération des parents, the Association des centres de la petite enfance francophones, Cap Enfants, Jeunesse Acadienne et Francophone de l’Î.-P.-É., the Comité régional des Jeux de l’Acadie, the Village des Sources L’Étoile Filante and the Collège de l’Île.
After an initial year dedicated to marketing efforts, including the production of a joint pamphlet and banner in French and English to promote the various services and programs in French for children and their parents on P.E.I., the group decided to prioritize the integration of the various services and programs in French to children moving forward.
To tackle the integration of services and programs to children, the group invited all of the Acadian and Francophone organizations on the Island that intervene in the matter, notably the Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité and the six community centres, or that were interested in the topic.
The goal of the meeting was to identify gaps, needs and duplications in French-language services to children. No duplications were noted, and numerous ideas were proposed to improve and increase services and fill gaps and needs.
