PIRS was founded over 40 years ago by visionary and committed immigrant women who identified a need for English language programs for women, with childcare for their children.

Community-based programming with childcare for immigrant and refugee women continues to be a pressing need today.

Currently, government funded programs have waitlists of over a year, and there is a demand for English classes that have childcare.

In 2016, PIRS was there to serve the first refugees arriving from Syria to the Lower Mainland. With support from people like you and many volunteer hours, we were able to deliver a warm welcome and a head start with learning English to 300 Syrian children and their families.

We’ve increased the number of English classes we offer in the community to help newcomer women and their families get settled into their new lives in Canada. While the moms are learning English, their children are cared for by qualified early childhood educators.

It costs only $25 for one woman and her child to attend a PIRS program for one month.

We expect almost 2,000 refugees will arrive in BC before the end of 2016. More than half will be children under the age of 12.

Can you make a donation to support PIRS programs and help create a warm welcome for these new Canadians?