One World, CUPS filled with giving

by Alex Frazer-Harrison

A chance meeting between a Faculty of Education instructor and a teacher looking for new challenges helped make a United Way-supported preschool for children of low-income families a reality.

Three years ago, Cynthia Prasow signed up as a volunteer with the Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS), an organization dedicated to aiding homeless and low-income Calgarians.

“ My background is early childhood education, so I became involved in the planning of the One World Child Development Centre,” says Prasow, a field instructor in the Division of Teacher Preparation. “It’s a first for Calgary – a school for low-income children.”

Students are referred by CUPS’ Family Resource Centre to One World, located in what used to be an Electric Avenue nightclub downtown.

“ This place opened empty a year ago,” Prasow says. “Today we are at our maximum capacity of 32 students. We have seen this place just flourish and that is a great feeling.”

The school’s director, Sabine Harris, credits Prasow for getting her involved in One World. As a trained classroom teacher, Harris was meeting with Prasow to discuss the Master Teaching program when Prasow suggested she get involved in One World.

“ I encouraged her and told her don’t miss this opportunity,” says Prasow.
Prasow is a member of One World’s education advisory committee.

Parents are encouraged to get involved in the school, which also offers a collective kitchen program and prenatal classes, she said. The school offers important early education for children who otherwise might not have access to preschool learning.

“ This is a wonderful endeavour. It has been great to watch the centre develop,” she says. “For me, this is a way of giving back to the community.”

A number of U of C staff give up free time to work with CUPS. George Melnyk, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Communication and Culture, spends one morning a week in the CUPS clothing room, which provides donated outfits for everyday life and job-hunting.

“ This program gathers 300 pieces of clothing each week,” says Melnyk, who in his youth worked in the Eaton’s clothing department.

“ It is surprising how many people need basics like socks and underwear,” he says. “I was surprised to see the large number of female clients using the clothing room since I had thought of the homeless as being primarily male.”

Melnyk started with CUPS in 2002 and organized a Christmas clothing drive in his faculty which he hopes to repeat this year.

Prasow said CUPS wouldn’t exist without the support of the United Way. “CUPS is a showcase of the importance of giving to the United Way – support makes it possible.”

To volunteer or for more information, call 290-5500. For more information on CUPS, call 221-8780. For information on the U of C’s 2003 United Way campaign, call 220-5726.