FUTFS Newsletter 39 (June 2024)

For You Telecare Family Service (FUTFS) assists individuals and families from all walks of life to overcome cultural, emotional, and psychological barriers through a wide range of counselling and educational services and programs. In collaboration with other social service organizations, we raise awareness of social issues and support clients in the community through the progression of a healthy lifestyle and gradual integration into Canadian society.The projects we provide at FUTFS are for anyone who is willing or interested in participating. Anyone can easily register through our website (www.futfs.org).

Programs & Services in June 2024

1. Youth Talent Show

The Youth Talent Show offers teenagers the chance to showcase their hidden talents. Participants can express their individuality on stage, impressing the audience. They can cheer for friends' diverse talents, have fun, and share positive energy. By creating vision boards with peers, they can nurture their dreams and expect positive changes. Volunteers for the day will receive 6 hours of volunteer service, and performers will receive 2 hours. We look forward to your participation.



2. Wellness Group

To prevent parents from stressing over their children's issues, we organize small group activities where they can learn parenting skills and share experiences. Participating parents find healing together, gaining insight, wisdom, and a sense of belonging, fostering positive change and emotional growth.

3. Youth Facilitator Training

FUTFS is recruiting youth leaders to train them in skills needed to organize and execute programs and projects. This program involves small groups planning actual events. Participants will receive training in coordination, organizational, and project skills, including communication, relationship building, and teamwork necessary for project execution.

4. English Cafe

FUTFS holds an English cafe class every Tuesday from 10:30 to 12:00 to improve volunteers' upgraded English speaking skills. Participants in this class will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face at the Young Center Plus to chat and speak English. The class is led by Instructor Heather Sheildrick.



5. Expressive Art Class IV

Students will have the opportunity to explore various artistic techniques and learn how to express their emotions and experiences through art. In an inclusive and supportive environment, each student will discover their unique creative expression and find their true self. Join us and share new experiences and discoveries together!

6. Mind and Motion

This is a two-week summer youth volunteer program to enhance social and leadership skills while providing insight into future career paths. Participants engage in activities fostering emotional expression, empathy, and teamwork over a two-day training session, and a graduation ceremony at the end.

7. Counseling Service

FUTFS offers a range of counseling services for those in distress, career, or in need of emotional support. We provide counselling services as all possible ways as possible such as Zoom, email, phone for any regions in Canada, and additionally provide in-person counselling for Toronto only such as telephone counseling, individual counseling, family counseling, outreach and more.



The Hidden Truth of Korean American Youth I

In Korean-Canadian communities, teenagers sometimes act without caring about morals or ethics. Some teenage girls become mothers without getting married because of money or personal problems after moving to Canada. Also, many Korean-Canadian teens try drugs and alcohol in middle school, which can lead to mental health problems because they hang out with the wrong crowd, face bullying, or even think about hurting themselves.

There are also many teenagers experiencing stress due to the cultural shock of Canada or inadequate language skills. Immigrant parents often struggle to balance survival needs with raising their children, prioritizing earning money to survive, even if it means sacrificing values and the meaning of life. Despite improvements in economic conditions, many cannot afford to relax.

Due to severed communication and relationship discord, around 30-35% of parents end up separated or divorced, leaving their children suffering silently. Struggling with loneliness and alienation, they may turn to harmful behaviors like addiction, making it hard for them to attend school or socialize. Let's not ignore these issues; many teenagers are grappling with mental health problems, and it's a misconception to think their resilience will naturally strengthen with advancements in technology. We need to be proactive in supporting them, as these troubled youths could be anyone's child—strangers, neighbors, or even our own. (***The 2nd article will be continued in the July newsletter)

Suyeon Jin, FUTFS Executive Director