Moving to a new country as a teenager can be daunting, especially when you don’t know anyone. But sometimes, unexpected connections can lead to life-changing experiences.

Meet Isaac Aserra, who immigrated from Kenya at 15 years old with his mom. Upon arriving in the city, he didn’t know anyone until a girl he met in high school introduced him to BGC Winnipeg (formerly Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg.) “I had a crush on a girl from school, and she just was like, ‘Yo! there is this leadership thing that kids can sign up for. Do want me to come after school?’” Aserra joked. “We walked across the road, went into this middle school, and then we just walked into a room full of kids. We're talking 50-plus kids at this club,” In the bustling room, Isaac discovered BGC’s free after school programming, which provides education, recreation, social services, and food to more than 3,200 children and youth ages 6 to 18 out of 28 service locations.

“They basically just brought me in offering pizza, scholarship opportunities, things you can use on your resume,” Aserra says. “So, since I was new, like I said, just landed, I was like okay, I should be doing extracurriculars. They said we could sign up for this leadership program, and I was like sure, I'll do it.”

Aserra says the main reason he was so inclined to participate was because of one staff member’s enthusiasm. “I saw him, and I was like, I want to be a staff like him. And now I'm a staff like him.” Now, at 21 years old, Aserra is a program coordinator at BGC’s Aberdeen club, located in the city’s North End neighbourhood, one of 11 community-based clubs.

Over the years, many BGC alumni grow and become staff bringing their own lived experiences to the table, says BGC’s Director of Programs, Michelle Schmidt.

“They have lived experience when they work with the kids. They can relate in a way that is very personal and that builds deeper bonds.” Schmidt says. “It just builds up the community because now you're looking at a cycle that is about growing young people into leaders, who then grow other young people into leaders.”

Aserra agrees that his personal experience with BGC enables him to connect more effectively with youth participants, emphasizing the significance of having positive role models outside of their family. “They need good examples, and I feel like that's where I thrive.” Aserra says some kids need structure, while others just need someone to listen. Some kids need perspective, and others simply need freedom.

“Like today, she wants to cook, we're going to cook. I'll put a hairnet on her. She’ll call me chef, and I'll call her chef,” Aserra says pointing to a youth participant, who acts as his young sous-chef preparing chimichangas, carrots, and a cup of peaches. Schmidt says nutrition is a basic need. BCG's programming is centered around the recognition that children enjoy their experience more when they have a nutritious meal, and that providing food helps ease financial burden on families.

According to BGC, 73 per cent of youth attending the clubs live in the two lowest income quintiles of Manitoba. BGC staff says support for after school programming ensures under-resourced youth have the opportunities they need to grow and develop a sense of community and belonging. “It's not just throwing a basketball on the ground and saying here, go and do your own thing,” says Schmidt, “It's about mentoring, it's about skill development, and that comes from qualified, trained staff that care about these kids.”