Start small, ‘see big’ results
In a world where everyone is racing to big cities to take big risks and get big results, it would seem counter-intuitive to focus on small clusters of neighbouring people, on small goals attained one at a time, and on patiently developing a community. But this is precisely the approach of the Fédération des Parents de l’Î.-P.-É. and their ‘Voir Grand’(Dream Big) project.
The French-language federation of parents began the project in 2014 in an effort to prioritize engaging parents coupled with the knowledge that the parent is always a child’s first educator. Based in part on some techniques and tools of the same name offered through the Association Canadienne de l’éducation de langue française, Voir Grand aims to strengthen the bonds between parent, school and child to complete an educational triangle.
The P.E.I. version customizes a program of activities to respond to the particular needs of our francophone communities and schools. In particular, Voir Grand on P.E.I. strives to create unique opportunities for all parents, regardless of their first language, to feel welcome in their kids’ French schools and to participate actively in the education of their child. Another unique element of Voir Grand that has led to its success is the philosophy of ‘start small, dream big’: start here, and try make an impact on those you can reach from where you are standing.
I have been to some of the Voir Grand activities in Rusticoville and can testify that it works. About a hundred parents and grandparents filled the cafeteria at my son’s school at one of the soirées last winter. A presentation about personal loss of linguistic identity and Acadian heritage triggered a domino affect in the room and one parent after another proceeded to share his/her often tearful story of family identity. Each person that takes part in Voir Grand is a leader and a participant, a speaker and a listener. Rather than entice people to unite for a festival, cause or evening of entertainment, Voir Grand celebrates the people themselves, and invites them to share who they are among themselves.
The beauty of the project is in the unity of the schools, the daycares, the community centres, the parents as well as government, all of whom are partners in the undertaking of ongoing activities that spring up in Acadian regions across the Island. In describing the project, director of the FPÎPÉ Anastasia DesRoches said, “we steered it a certain way, but if it’s a success, it’s thanks to the partners on the ground.”
Natalie Pendergast, PH d., of Oyster Bed Bridge, worst as a communication manager in Prince Edward Island. She shares her unique perspective as an anglophone working in the francophone community with Journal Pioneer readers, and reflects on current affairs pertaining tola francophonie in her bi-weekly column. nataliebpergast@gmail.com