Projects
Arts and Crafts Project
Kids’ and youth arts and crafts activity create positive attitudes about differences and boost participants’ self-confidence in their own identities. Diversification of artwork would also increase social and emotional outcomes such as social skills, self-esteem, and attitudes towards others. Engaging kids and youth in productive activities like arts and crafts also deters them from the screen, thereby reducing their screen time, improving mental health of the participants and their parents. With this background milieu, the CRESS Centre has been striving to bring educational and skill development activities for the kids and youth since its inception.
Funded by the Stepping Stone Grant of Calgary Foundation the CRESS Centre in collaboration with the Nepalese Community Society of Calgary has been running arts and crafts sessions for the kids and youth from South Asian origin since July 2023.
Fostering Multiculturalism via Arts and Crafts
Grant Stream of the City of Calgary, this project aims to foster and promote multiculturalism in Calgary by engaging kids and youth in multicultural arts sessions. The CRESS Centre, in collaboration with the Trellis Society and the Nepalese Community Society of Calgary, runs craft sessions by engaging experts and participants from diverse ethnic backgrounds to educate and promote multiculturalism and anti-racism through innovative arts and crafts activities.
While kids and youth got engaged in training sessions, their parents got an opportunity to interact with parents from diverse cultures. This opens an avenue for new friendships while getting to know each other’s culture, thereby increasing the knowledge horizons and developing respect for each other’s cultures.
Nepali Mela and Multicultural Showcasing (NMMS) Event
With the slogan of “Our Culture, Our Identify and Our Pride: Let’s Embrace together,” the first of its kind in the history of Calgary, the NMMS envisions promoting Nepalese culture, heritage, and cuisine and taking the lead in promoting multiculturalism in Calgary, thereby fostering intergenerational and intercultural learning in a fun-filled outdoor environment. The CRESS Centre joined hands as an organizer of this event on July 22, 2023, at Prairie Winds Parks, NE quadrant of Calgary. Almost 10,000 visitors attended the event and enjoyed multicultural performances, live bands, and educational sessions. They also observed multicultural arts and crafts prepared by the kids and youth. Over 1,000 hours of volunteer time have been provided by the CRESS Experts and volunteers right from the planning phase to the final execution of the event.
Breaking the barriers (BB): Enhancing Mental Health Awareness of Immigrants
Mental health problems are under-identified among the immigrant population because the stigma and culture surrounding these conditions make people reluctant to seek help. The population faces multiple mental health challenges, including a lack of knowledge about resource availability, making it crucial to establish comprehensive programs that cater to the well-being of the groups.
Funded by Action Dignity’s Community Action Plan for the Racialized Communities, the educational and interactive initiative aims to improve the mental health and well-being of families, including seniors, adults, and youth, through intergenerational connections. It is intended to address the needs of families by promoting their mental wellness, social connectivity, and quality of life. Fostering meaningful interactions between seniors, adults, and younger generations together with mental health experts promotes a mutually beneficial support system that enhances social association, reduces isolation, and promotes mental well-being. Key activities include:
Targeted mental health awareness campaigns
· Workshops (for each age group, e.g., seniors, adults, and youth), support groups, and intergenerational activities
· Awareness sessions on topics related to healthy life, stress management, self-care, and maintaining cognitive function
· Collaborative art workshops, storytelling sessions, and creative projects that unite seniors, adults, and youth
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Our Accomplishments
Over the years, we have accomplished many important milestones in our mission to support mental health, including expanding our services and increasing accessibility to mental health resources.