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In Brazil, Mr. Corcelli is enrolled in a university program in adminisu'ation and works as a salesperson, selling coffee whole- sale to retail outlets and supermarkets. He brought this business and customer service experience to his work placement at the Care and Share where, in his words, “every day is just great fun". The program aims to strengthen bonds of Christian fellowship, promote intema- tional peace and understanding and help participants gain vocational skills, among other goals, BY ALLAN [Ellison-MCDOWELL Stoufiville has changed a lot overthe last decade - with so many new homes it is not surprising to see so many new faces in our community. One new face that many of you have likely come across over the last year is that of Daniel Corcelli, a full-time volunteer with the Care and Share Thrift Shop on Main Street. Mr. Corcelli, from Recife, Brazil, is a participant in the International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP), a vocational and cultural exchange program that brings young adults from 20 countries to Canada and the United States to spend one year living with host families and working with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) or partner organizations. Mr. Comelli arrived last August with some apprehensions about coming to Canada because it is so difierent from Bra- zilandthiswashisfirsttimeawayfrom home. But he has found his experience to be “wonderful.” “This year has been very important in my life, where I could share with people from another culture," he said. Before coming to Canada, Mr. Tim worked as a project manager at a centre for vulnerable children called Cambodia’s Children at Risk. He is also a student at the Pannasastra University of Cambodia, where he has completed three years of his Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Another participant in MCC’s IVEP program in Stoufl’ville is Pheakdey Tim, of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. World comes to town E: ‘r‘Mcnnonite exchange program visitors work, live in Stouflville Daniel Comelfl of Brazil and Pheakdey Tim of Cambodia tried hockey and other Canadian traditions during their time on exchange in Stoufiville this year. In Stouffville, Mr. Tun worked with the school, camp and outdoor education programs at Wdlowglove, an organiza- tion based on 100 acres on McCowan Road just south of Main Street. “I like working with kids a lot,” says Mr. Tim, who spent most of his time in the classroom. “I was able to shame about my culture and language with ' them. They really appreciated my time and investment in their kids’ life.” “It is such a great opportunity to come to Canada and learn more about its cul- ture, way of thinking and lifestyle. And through helping in the classroom, as the teacher's assistant, I have learned a lot â€" skills of teaching kids and, of course, I have improved my English.” lntemational Relations. Host families are an integral part of the IVEP program. By welcoming IVEP participants into their homes, hosts help them integrate into a Canadian family; community and church life in signifi- cant ways. While IVEPers spend much of their time volunteering at their work Stoufiville will welcome three new IVEPers from Laos, Zambia and Zimbabwe for another year in August. placements, they often say the connec- tions with people they live and work with are what they take with them when they return to their home communities, which was the case for both Mr. Comelli and Mr. "fim. “lamsothankfirltoGodthatIhave Bob and Sheryl Wideman as my host family,” Mr. Tim said. “They are very understandable persons. They were open to learning about my'culture. They also care and support me as their son. When I had surgery they looked after me very well.” Mr. Corcelli, too, has fond memories of spending time with his hosts, Ron and Sonya DeRoo and family. “We have had veryspecial, joyful times together," he said, “like going camping.” Mr. Corcelli and Mr. Tim return home this month. “The people in Stoufiville are very nice and friendly," Mr. Tim said, “they would always say hi to me when l was riding my bicycle on the road." If you are interested in learning more about IVEP, MCC, or hosting an IVEP participant for six to 11 months go to ivep.moc.org or call 416-832-0211. Stouflville‘s Allan Reesorâ€"McDoudI is MCC‘S IVEP coordinator at its Ontario oflices in bronto. Stbufiville will welcome three new IVEPers from lacs, Zambia and Zimba- bwe for another year in August. BY LH. TIFFANY HSIEH thsieh@yrmg. com Markham Stoufl'ville Hospital is hitting over its target in reducing ER wait tim'w, thanks to a pro- vincial funding program. 'Last year, Markham Stoufl’ville saw 57,000 ER patients. With funding made available only halfway through the year, the hospital managed to main- tained its wait time from previous years. The hospital needs to meet a 9- r-cent target in the program. Unoficial data for first quarter of this year indicates it has been admitting patients to inpatient beds within eight hours of tn’age, which is above the target. “Beds,” she said. “In all hospitals around here we have a certain percentage of patients that are in beds that no longer need acute care, but are wait- ing for long-term care placement and there just isn‘t the access to the beds." Since 2008, the province’s Pay for Results pro- gram has helped participating hospitals lower over- all wait times by 4.7 hours (28 per cent) for patients who require complex medical care or admission to hospital and by 1.4 hours (22 per cent) for patients with minor conditions. This is Markham Stoufiville’s second year in the program and “ifwe don’t improve at the end of the year, that funding will be removed," said Sandy Marangos, the hospital’s clinical director of mental health and emergency services. While the hospital received about $700,000 last year, it received about $600,000 with variable fundâ€" ing based on performance With the funding. Ms Marangos said the hospi- tal was able to hire four patient-flaw oo-ondinators to concentrate on discharge planning and three bed-flow co-oxdinators to move patients from the ER department to an empty bed. “It’s like having a doctor right at triage,” Ms Marangos said. “We bring the doctor right to the patient at triage, supported by a nurse who carries out any orders, so we can shorten the length of day for patients. Whether they are admitted or not, they get seen by a doctor." This year, through a $100-million investment announced this week, the province is expanding the program to bring the total number of partici- pating hospitals to 71. As _well, Markham Stoilfiville is piloting a physi- cian-nurse triage team. What‘s the usual cause for slow wait times at a hospital? A $400-million redevelopment will see the hos‘ pital double its capacity by 2014. On avérage, Ms Marangos said the hospital receives just shy of 5,000 ER visits a month. Hospital beating ER target MJM'MM I 9