Grand opportunity for Laval families of Italian origin

Children and young people, our investment in the future, require orientation, education, and formation that will equip them to live meaningful and productive lives in a global society that is increasingly more demanding on a political, social, cultural, and spiritual basis.

Parents, wishing to give their children advantages for future health, wealth, and happiness, face the enormous challenge of providing them with the wherewithal for an education that will prepare them for life.

Schools – private, semi-private, and public – do their best to educate each and every child and young person placed in their care, but in this day and age it seems that that is simply not enough.

Where, then, does a family turn for the ‘advantages’, the ‘extras’ needed to survive, thrive, and succeed in our demanding society?

One of the places that families of Italian origin can turn to is the renowned PICAI Language Program offered by the Italian government, in conjunction with local educators throughout the world.

The program, operative for several decades, is implemented within a quality learning environment in which professional educators put children as young as kindergarten age in touch with their Italian roots, in classes conducted Saturday mornings, from September to April.

A mini-school, the PICAI Program, offers children three hours of cultural development through a diversified approach that has as its aim the promotion of Italian as a third language, another portal to the windows of the world.

“We are gratified with the response we get every year,” says Romolo Chiarella, director of PICAI Centre for the western part of Laval island. “And we are even more pleased with our retention rate of students who start with us. We hardly lose anyone after their first year with us. In fact, not only do we retain our past students, we pick up many more from the families and friends of these young people who spread the word about the benefits of the lessons we provide on a weekly basis,” Professor Chiarella told Courrier Laval in a recent interview, adding that he and staff members will welcome returning students and newcomers to registration sessions which begin this coming Saturday, September 13.