It’s not easy to step out of your comfort zone, but a Richmond festival organizer hopes to help new Asian immigrants do just that.
Richmondite Christine Sher, the owner of a tutoring business, RL Education wants new Asian immigrants to build their confidence in reaching out to Western communities and businesses to bridge the communication gap between the two.
She’s hosting the Canadian Culture Children’s Festival at the Richmond Oval on Sunday, Oct. 16.
“I want to give these new immigrants the confidence to say that Westerners are very approachable, and they are ... willing to help and introduce them to Western culture and ways,” said Sher.
Creating a dialogue, she added, is the first step in building cohesion between families in different cultural communities.
The festival is Sher's way of helping families who often tell her they "don't know where to start."
The festival will be held inside the Richmond Olympic Experience Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Sunday.
Families can expect music, free food, entertainment, educational booths and virtual games at the Richmond Olympic Experience Museum.
The booths will showcase educational and extracurricular resources in Richmond.
Sher told the Richmond News she noticed that communities “strive together best” when there is a common cause and there is no better cause than their children's future.
“The festival helps educate parents about the resources … that Richmond offers, whether it’s educational planning for children, or entertaining them with after-school activities that aren’t their iPads,” she said.
Admission to the festival is by donation with all funds to be donated to the BC Children’s Hospital.
