Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

Since 1995, Toronto Youth Development (TYD) has assisted and fostered underprivileged youth in Toronto. Its mission is to develop the potential of at-risk youths, helping to reduce high school dropout rates, community violence and next generation poverty. TYD helps these inner city youth rise from their present environment and attain self-worth, confidence and leadership through four key activities:

1. Academic: Math and English tutorials assisting youth and improving their grades.

2. Character Formation: workshops encouraging the moral development and behaviour of youth.

3. Leadership: seminars developing youth leadership, confidence and initiative to help others.

4. Sports: after-school programs, summer camps, and sports clinics fostering teamwork, camaraderie and healthy living.

TYD’s clientele are underprivileged youth, ages 10-16. The main location of service is delivered on the east side of Toronto, Regent Park and surrounding communities.

History of Organization

For 16 years Toronto Youth Development has offered children and families the Academic and Sports Enrichment Programs (ASE). The programs are grass roots in nature, beginning in 1995 when a group of University of Toronto students saw a need for academic assistance to  at-risk children. Their vision was to offer 4-week, half day camps in the summer in order to prepare the youth for the upcoming grade. We now offer a full year of rounded programs consisting of Academics, Character Development, Sports and Leadership Development. All our children’s programs are well studied before delivery, making sure that they are safe, learnable, fun, and conducive to development.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Our accomplishments include:

• An Increasing number of returning students (30% of children returned in 2007; 38% returned in 2000; 64% returned in 2009)
• A 300% increase in registration of at-risk youth in the past 2.5 years
• Consistency in staff and volunteers
• Development and delivery of York Region’s School Board new curriculum
• Enhanced delivery effectiveness of all programs

Programs

> Academic and Sports Enrichment (ASE) Summer Camp

• Academic and Sports Enrichment (ASE) Programs for Boys and Girls
• ASE Seven-week summer day camps
• ASE After School Saturday camps
• Steve Nash Youth Basketball Development Program
• ASE Character Development Program
• ASE One-on-one Peer Mentoring Program
• ASE Sports and Physical Fitness
• ASE Excursions
• ASE Four-day Camping Trip Program
• ASE Job Shadowing/Corporate Involvement Program
• ASE Leadership Development Program
• ASE Graduating Alumni Volunteer Leadership/Internship Program

 Academic and Sports Enrichment (ASE) Summer Camp

• Camp is held in one of the nearby community schools with four classrooms, a gymnasium and an outdoor playground.
• Morning activities consist of English, Math and Character Development tutorials
• Afternoon activities consist of sports, recreation, crafts and one-on-one mentoring

Cultural excursions include:

• The Toronto Argonauts Football Club’s Ambassador Program for Youth
• The Toronto Raptors Foundation for Kids Program
• Canada’s Wonderland
• Ontario Science Centre
• Royal Ontario Museum
• Centre Island

Funding and Program Partners

• Shorcan Brokers / TMX Group
• Government of Canada
• Toronto Community Foundation
• The Rotary Club of Toronto
• CIBC World Markets - Children’s Foundation
• PWC Canada Foundation
• Walmat Canada Corporation
• The Kiwanis Club of Toronto
• Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Team Up Foundation
• Toronto Argonauts
• Ernescliff College

Program Impact

Since 1995, TYD has fostered thousands of at-risk youth in various communities. The main central community for over 16 years has been the Regent Park community, situated on the east side of downtown Toronto. TYD has expanded over the years in servicing Riverdale, Moss Park, St Jamestown and Market Lane communities in order to meet increased need caused by poverty growth. Strategic plans call for an expansion to (2) priority neighborhoods ( Jane / Finch & Lawrence Heights)

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“Between 3 and 6 p.m., unsupervised children are more likely to engage in gang-related or delinquent behaviour, or become victims of crime.”

“Only 5 per cent of kids aged 6-12, in the city’s neighbourhoods that house the largest number of this age group, have after-school programs.”

(Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Participant Vignette

“ASE helped me set my goals and achieve them. My grades improved as well as my athletic skills. ASE also helps me socially by showing me how to get along with people.”
- Prasham P.
ASE Graduate, 1st Year York University

“The bond of enthusiasm and friendship between the ASE kids and leaders is very evident. What really impressed me was the appreciation expressed by the parents at the conclusion of the program. They love their kids and are proud of them. Parents appreciate the work being done by TYD in helping their children set and achieve high goals for themselves.”
Robert Taylor, CA
Partner, PriceWaterhouseCooper
ASE Volunteer

“Children from Kindergarten to grade 8 have benefited from TYD’s generosity; their volunteer staffs have been both friendly and dedicated to helping the kids of Regent Park achieve their full academic potential.”
- Barry White
Principal, St. Paul Catholic School