For some students, going to school is not just about homework or tests. It is about navigating a new language, unfamiliar routines, and the quiet fear of not being understood. For newcomer youth especially, those barriers can feel heavy enough that school stops feeling like a place they belong at all.
Across Niagara, YMCA-run school clubs like Spanish Club and Bright Club are changing that experience. These clubs are creating welcoming, low-pressure spaces where students can build confidence, connect with others, and rediscover a sense of belonging. Through shared activities, conversation, and community, they are helping students feel safe enough to show up, try, and grow.
Spanish Club: finding confidence through connection
Spanish Club runs in elementary schools across the region and is open to all students, not just Spanish speakers. While the name reflects the language many students share, the heart of the club is connection.
Before Spanish Club existed, some newcomer students were missing school regularly. Teachers noticed children avoiding recess, hiding in bathrooms, or staying home altogether because the language barrier and social isolation felt overwhelming. For these students, school was not just challenging. It was intimidating.
“Some newcomer students didn’t want to come to school because they felt nobody understood them. They were hiding in bathrooms or staying home altogether.”
Spanish Club became a place where those barriers softened. Students could speak comfortably, practice English without fear of mistakes, and build friendships with peers who understood what it felt like to be new. Confidence grew quietly at first, then visibly.
One powerful example comes from two sisters, Elbanys and Eivanys, who arrived from Venezuela. When they first joined Spanish Club, they were extremely shy and spoke no English. Over time, the club gave them space to grow at their own pace. Today, Eivanys greets new students, Elbanys makes them feel welcome, and they both recently performed together at Latin Fiesta (an annual celebration for kids and parents of Spanish Club). Their journey reflects what Spanish Club makes possible: confidence, joy, and a sense of belonging that reaches far beyond the lunchroom.
Their growth has not gone unnoticed at home. As their mom shared, “I can only say thank you so much to the YMCA, and especially to Andrea, for her generosity with my girls. As parents, we are very proud of how much they are thriving today in another language.” She also expressed gratitude for the work being done alongside their teachers to support them.
Students who gain confidence in Spanish Club often begin joining other school activities, clubs, and teams. As their language skills and self-belief grow, so does their willingness to explore new interests and fully participate in school life.
YMCA Wellness Navigators, Andrea and Mila
Newcomer sisters, Eivanys and Elbanys, are active members at Spanish Club
YMCA Wellness Navigators, Farkhanda and Hoda
Bright Club: community in every season
Bright Club runs in elementary schools and is intentionally open to everyone. It first began during Ramadan as a lunchtime space where children could gather and feel connected during a time when many students choose to fast. Lunch can be a lonely moment for students who are new or feel different, and Bright Club offered something simple but meaningful: a place to be together.
As Bright Club has grown, so has its impact. Today, it runs in multiple schools and continues throughout the year because of how strongly students respond to it. Many choose it over recess, arriving early, bringing friends, making new ones, and returning again and again.
Through crafts, games, shared conversations, and cultural exchange, students build skills, confidence, and empathy. Shy students begin speaking up. Students from different grades and backgrounds form friendships.
YMCA staff often see students arrive shy or hesitant at first. Over time, those same students begin leading activities, mentoring peers, and confidently sharing parts of their culture and experiences. Some practice new words in English or other languages. Others discover creative talents they did not know they had. All of them are learning that their voice has value and deserves to be heard.
Why spaces like these matter
Clubs like Spanish Club and Bright Club matter because they create space for students to be seen, heard, and supported in ways that classrooms alone cannot always offer. They lower the pressure, reduce isolation, and make room for connection to grow naturally.
For newcomer students in particular, these spaces can be the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling capable. They offer opportunities to build confidence, learn new skills, and form relationships that make school feel safer and more welcoming.
What starts as a shared activity or lunchtime gathering often becomes something much bigger. Students begin showing up more regularly. They try new things. They take pride in who they are and what they bring with them.
Across Niagara, spaces like these are quietly shaping brighter school experiences. They remind us that inclusion is not just about access. It is about creating environments where every student feels seen and has the confidence to take their next step forward.
If you’re an educator or school partner interested in bringing programs like these to your school, connect with our team.