“It forced me to open me and integrate me “

Photo pierre-paul poulin
Ion Banaru, electrical engineering student at McGill University, does not pass through four paths to explain its success. Come to Moldova to 12 years of age, it is the framing of the Passport to my success, which has facilitated its integration in Quebec.

Pierre-Paul Biron

Sunday, January 7, 2018 00:00

UPDATE
Sunday, January 7, 2018 00:00

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Landed just right of the republic of Moldova in 2008 when he spoke neither French nor English, a young Montrealer studying today at McGill University through pathways to success, a program that may well extend elsewhere in Québec soon.

Ion Banaru does not pass through four paths when it comes time to identify the factors that have contributed to the conduct of studies in electrical engineering at McGill. Without the Passport program implemented in six communities in quebec, he may not have ever graduated.

“For a child of 12 years, to see this goal that’s so far away and see all of the steps, such as learning the language, succeed in the other subjects, to go through the school system, the college and finally reach the university, it was like going to the moon for me. But the program has allowed me to take it in small steps, ” says the young man who has ultimately been very successful everywhere he has gone.

More than tutoring

Within Passport, Ion has found a cover school complete which has allowed him to advance at the same pace as his classmates quebec. However, beyond the challenge of school, the arrival of the young man in his home community also involved a major social challenge.

“It made a difference on my entire life. It is in the program that I discovered activities that have allowed me to meet other young people. It forced me to open me, to integrate me, ” says the young man.

The fact of living with other young people who “were not easy” has also contributed to the development of Ion. Immigrant youth, children of dysfunctional families or disadvantaged ; where did these young people did not matter, this is where they were going that mattered.

“Regardless of our background, we were all in the same situation. All we wanted was to go further in our journey in school and in life. We understood and we rested in there, ” remembers the one who returns to give time to his tower when he has the opportunity.

Help more young people

Proud to see young people grow as the Ion did, to the leaders of pathways to success, think big. As the program is currently funded 100 % by private donors, discussions have been undertaken with the ministry of Education to ensure that the development.

“There seems to be an opening. The discussions are positive and we believe that we can really help the government with its policy of stalling, ” says the Quebec vice-chair of the organization, Sandro Di Cori.

Currently located in Verdun, Shawinigan, Sherbrooke, Lachine, Pointe-Saint-Charles and Mashteuiatsh, pathways to success hopes to reach more young people in the near future. Because “the needs are there,” insists the direction that offers academic support, social, financial and personal follow-up to students in difficulty.