Enter the Chinese Welfare Association after school club and it's a hive of activity. Catering for 5-11 year olds this club provides a quiet place to do homework, play and have fun.
| The children on the whole speak Chinese at home, so it’s very difficult for them because it’s a new language really. |
All these children have one thing in common - they are all from the Chinese community and for most of them English is their second language.
Approximately 80 per cent of the parents do not speak English, their first language being Mandarin or Cantonese. The Chinese Welfare Association recognised the difficulties for Chinese children living here and set up the club to support the children with their homework and English.
Susan Woods, co-ordinator of the project said, "The children on the whole would speak Chinese at home, their parents speak Chinese so whenever they're coming into Primary One it's very difficult for them because it's a new language really."
The after school club is in its second year and is becoming more and more popular. "Last year we didn't have very many children, whereas this year the word had got round the community, they see that we're helping the children and we're getting more and more children," said Susan.
The children all seem to enjoy the different activities available to them. Benjamin and Yu-Hin are big fans of the computer room where they can improve their writing skills and play games. Melody enjoys quieter pursuits like art and craft. Dominic is a little more energetic and loves to play badminton and uni-hoc.
About the team
This article was produced by Siobhan Quinn, 12, Daniel McCrisken, 11 and Orlaith Graham Wood, 12. It was published in Step by Step, a joint publication with the New Opportunities Fund in Northern Ireland.
