Project Hope receives funds to help keep therapy programs going

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

Project Hope can only stay in the school systems in Strathmore with the help of grants and generous donations from the community. On March 28, Kim Currie, on behalf of Encana, presented a cheque to Project Hope for $5,000. 

“We look for the help because the whole program is 100 per cent community funded,” said Corinne Ball, a member of the Project Hope board. 

“We need about $120,000 to $150,000 a year…in order to keep the program running.”

“We know we interrupt some of the community members, so we try to help out in the community as much as we can,” said Currie, about Encana’s donation. 

Project Hope is a group of people who fundraise in the community to provide art therapy, music therapy and physical education therapy to students with special needs in the schools. While the project runs in conjunction with the school, the school system doesn’t provide funding.  

“It helps to, obviously keep funding the programs that Project Hope provides, which is really good for having the kids learn to express themselves in a lot of different ways,” said Chris Iversen, Senior Skills teacher at Crowther Memorial Junior High. 

“It gives such a fantastic, real alternative, way for kids to learn and to show what they’ve learned…instead of just the traditional classroom choices, especially being a life skills based program that kids can show what they’ve learned and learn things lots of different ways.” 

Project Hope has been in Strathmore for almost 15 years. Two of the founding members had children with special needs and they felt there was a need for more focused programs for kids with special needs at the schools. It began in Westmount Elementary with about five kids and the project was such a success it has continued to grow over the years. Different types of therapy were added to enhance the project for the kids.