Why Start Excel Family and Youth Society ?

Welcome Everyone!

I would like to give you a brief history and some information regarding Excel Family and Youth Society. 

I was doing research for over six months in 2009 in order to understand the level of success and needs within the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Calgary, Alberta.

My findings are shocking, our Communities hold the highest unemployment and divorce rate. This is often a topic that is not discussed among our community. Also another main focus for us is the next generation. While there is a rising number of Teen involvement in gangs and drug abuse.  Youth effectiveness and self esteem is  very low in our community. This is something we intend on changing. There is a lack of direction and support for newcomers as well. I find that new migrants to Canada struggle to settle down. I am strongly convinced that if we work together  we can  help the our community to reach to the highest level in every aspect of their lives in this free society. We are a Team of Professionals and Specialist to assist according to the needs.

 I  have summarized some interesting numbers from City of Calgary and from statistics Canada web.

• Calgary’s population is expected to reach at least 1.1 mil by 2014 and 1.23 mil by 2022, primarily due to in-migration.
• Between 1998 and 2003 Calgary’s net migration has averaged about 13,000 people per year.
• The number of new comers to Alberta  Ethiopian and Eritrean origins increased from 1991 to 2006 by  400%
• In 2001 immigrants comprised 20% of Calgary’s population.
• More than 40% of Calgary’s immigrants are from China, the Philippines ,India ,Hong Kong and Vietnam (Schellenberg,2004)
• “One of cities characterized by increasing poverty, social exclusion and decline; the other of inclusive cities characterized by equitable and sustainable growth “  (Cities alliance, N.D)

• In 2003, 161,000 Calgarians living in poor household, which is a  25% increase in 2002, the numbers jumped to 27% in 2005.
• Calgary’s child poverty rate almost doubled from 11.3% in 2000 to 20.4% in 2003,which amounts to an estimated 43,000 children living in poor households (City of Calgary ,2005)

• The immigrant groups likely to reside in poorest neighbourhoods were Black Africans, Chinese,Filipino, and Vietnamese (Smith ,2004 )
• Some ethnic communities have higher levels of poverty than others

 As we see on the statistics Canada documents the number of Ethiopian and Eritrean new comers is growing by over 100 % annually  in Alberta. However, for the new comers to attain sufficient resources and direction for a positive new life is not strong. We have established the Excel Family and Youth Society to seek change and inspire a positive change. We have brought together a team of volunteer professionals and community associations to one platform. Thus contributing our part in building effective ,productive and safe communities in Alberta and in long term in  Canada . Excel Family and Youth Society is a community-based non-profit organization, which provides free community development and integration services to everyone in need.

Please join us  to make some change in our community  and make our people successful and happy in this beautiful  country.

" Most powerful is he who has himself in his Power"
                                                                      Lucius Amaeus Seneca

Dr. Girma Lulu
President