Who are we?
Learning Buddies Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping elementary school students develop essential literacy and math skills through free one on one, after school mentoring in a fun group setting. We reach children who otherwise would not have the help they need. Our goals are to enhance self-esteem through improvement in academic skills, and to ignite a passion for learning in a safe and caring environment.
What do we do?
Learning Buddies Network inspires a love of learning one child at a time. Through the relationship that builds with their Mentor, the Little Buddy is inspired to work hard on challenging tasks. They soon take pride in accomplishments achieved through their own efforts. The result is improved academics and/or self esteem. We also see proud parents, grateful teachers and volunteers who grow in maturity as they share in the child’s pride and achievements.
Our Indigenous Programs
To learn more about our Indigenous Programs logo featured above, visit this page:
Learning Buddies Network is proud to share its three-year journey of partnership with Indigenous communities in B.C.
Last summer, we graduated our first Little Reading Buddy from Bella Bella, and had our second Little Buddy graduate at the end of December 2023. In the summer of 2024, we partnered with Thomas Wilson, a Heiltsuk artist and high school math teacher in Bella Bella, to create a logo for our Indigenous programs. Additionally, with the support of Tevan Wilson, we completed a professional video to help capture our progress from Bella Bella Reading and Math Buddies. We hope to use this video to recruit more Indigenous communities to partner with our programs. To date, we have a Klemtu Pod that is underway, and we have also been reaching out to other Northern communities.
Our staff have been working to recruit more mentors and compile new materials, most notably, some authentic resources from Strong Nations for our upcoming in-person Reading Buddies program in Bella Bella. Our Indigenous Program Director, Sharon Johansen, shares some of her thoughts below:
“Our history of western education has caused so much trauma that’s still evident today with intergenerational trauma, and we witness so much of it daily. However, Murray Sinclair, former Chair for Truth and Reconciliation mentioned, “It was education that got us into this mess. It will be education that gets us out.” Coming from a nation that is teaching, breathing, and instilling our cultural values in our Big House, it is evident that we need to bring these teachings and weave them into our curriculum. Thankfully we have First Peoples Principles of Learning and BC Teacher Standard 9 that assist us in allowing us to bring our valuable teachings into the classroom. Now, it’s up to the system to do the work and weave together the teachings for the betterment of our Indigenous learners and their peers.”
Wai.
Ǧiáxsix̌a
Sharon A. Johansen, Heiltsuk Nation
Take a Peek!
On June 5th, 2023, LBN hosted its 15th Anniversary Appreciation Gala to celebrate our volunteers and local community. Over 150 guests attended the gala for a delightful evening of food, drinks, and music!
Thank you to all our generous sponsors, who made this event possible: Ingenius Prep, COBS Bread Main Street, Chaberton Estate Winery, & Earnest Ice Cream. As well, special thanks to all our sponsors in attendance: Michelle Yu Personal Real Estate Corporation, Singleton Reynolds, Lee Family Dentistry, Chan Family Foundation, & the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation.
Thank you to the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation for supporting the expansion of our Indigenous programs
We at LBN are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment which respects and values all people within the organization. We are committed to taking the necessary steps to foster a community-based environment free from all forms of discrimination, regardless of one's age, race, gender, ability, religion, social class, or ethnicity.
We value diverse worldviews, ideas, values, and beliefs. Through these values, we aim to advance our mission to provide quality academic support and mentorship to children in service to the community, as well as provide all people with meaningful and rewarding learning opportunities.
