Centre’s clever culture
24/07/2012
Courtesy of The Express
Larger premises for popular community program
The popularity of Canterbury’s Emerging Communities Resource Centre at Lakemba means it will be forced to find a bigger home.
In one year, the centre has been used by 11 small and emerging cultural groups from countries including Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Burma, Bangladesh, Samoa and Tonga.
Mayor Brian Robson said Canterbury Council had endorsed a resolution to provide larger premises for the centre as it could no longer cater to demand.
“Im proud of the results we’ve achieved,” he said.
“Council established the ECRC to address issues faced by emerging communities such as barriers to employment, isolation and culture shock.
“The ECRC is so popular it needs to move into larger premises to allow more meeting and training space for the current tenants.”
The office has implemented a range of environmental, counselling and support, homework assistance and literacy programs for its clients.
Centre Facts
What: The Emerging Communities Resource Centre needs a new home because it has outgrown its base at Lakemba Library.
Who: It runs counselling and support, homework assistance and literacy programs for its clients for a range of communities including the Somalis and Bangladeshis.