Spotlight

Ontario Helping Children and Youth Overcome Barriers

Logan D Suza

The 38 organizations that will receive grants from the Youth Opportunities Fund this year have a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in their communities.

The Ontario government is financial planning more than $13.5 million through the Young Open doors Asset to help 38 youth-centered grassroots ventures across the territory that will assist kids, youth and families with developing new abilities, beat social and monetary boundaries, and explore administrations locally. This includes funding 20 projects in the Greater Toronto Area with over $7.7 million.

Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services, stated, “Local volunteers, community leaders, and grassroots organizations are the driving force behind strong and thriving communities.” Better outcomes for children, youth, and families are made possible with the assistance of the Youth Opportunities Fund, which provides financial and social support to local community organizations. I can’t wait to see the good things that these recipients will do for their communities.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is in charge of the grant program known as the Youth Opportunities Fund. The programs funded by the Youth Opportunities Fund this year include:

  • support youth to stay engaged in school, advance their skills and transition to employment
  • empower girls and young women to be leaders
  • help children, youth and their families address racism
  • provide mentorship and employment-related supports, such as job shadowing and employment mentorship opportunities
  • help youth and families navigate and access programs and resources in their community that strengthen family well-being as well as community and cultural connections.

Some examples of the projects receiving funding this year include:

  • Christie Refugee Welcome Centre and their partners will help unaccompanied or separated Black and racialized youth navigating the immigration system in the Essex, Kent, Lambton, Niagara, and Toronto regions to access the support they need along the way. Christie Refugee Welcome Centre received a grant of $237,700 over two years.
  • Maternal Mind Matters will help Muslim parents, guardians, and caregivers in Milton to access culturally appropriate mental wellbeing supports. Maternal Mind Matters received a grant of $254,500 over three years.
  • Niizh Mandiook Hide Camp will create a place where Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIAA+ youth in Essex, Kent, Lambton, Grand River, and York-Simcoe can strengthen their connections to Indigenous identity and culture through traditional skills and teachings. Niizh Mandiook Hide Camp received a grant of $375,000 over three years.

“Ontario’s childhood are the up and coming age of pioneers and changemakers who will assist with molding the eventual fate of the region,” said Michael Portage, Priest of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. ” The Youth Opportunities Fund investment made by our government will assist youth from all walks of life in overcoming obstacles, empowering them to realize their full potential, and contributing to the development of robust, inclusive, and thriving communities in which everyone has the chance to succeed.

Katharine Bambrick, CEO of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, stated, “This year, the Ontario Trillium Foundation is pleased to partner with the government of Ontario to invest $13.5 million through the Youth Opportunities Fund to support 38 critical grassroots projects.” This funding helps local projects that work to improve the social and economic well-being of our community members and are led by young people and families with similar lived experiences. We are grateful to the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services for their ongoing support as we build communities that are healthy and vibrant.

 

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