Empowered Young Women win City Award
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Empowering Young Women's Group |
Congratulations to our Empowering Young Women's Group on receiving an INI Award (Identify ‘n Impact) from the City of Toronto for Enabling Collective Action.
The Indentify 'n Impact awards are sponsored by the Toronto Youth Cabinet and the City of Toronto and recognize the key role that youth play as advocates, visionaries and agents of social change. The group was recognized for its efforts in building a team to work together to better the community.
The group meets Friday afternoons at the North West Scarborough Youth Centre Centre to talk through common issues like peer pressure, smoking, and healthy lifestyle choices with group facilitators Tara and Kirishaa, both of whom were former participants.
Last year, the group presented workshops to girls in middle school on healthy living and relationships.
They are currently working on producing a “Girl Talk” magazine which will be distributed in local schools and libraries.
Kirishaa describes the group as "a great place to talk - we know that what is said in the room, stays in the room. It is about building our character and inner strength. It is helping me be a stronger person and do what is right."
Kirishaa has been involved for several years and her story was profiled in our Annual Report. > Read Kirishaa's story
Special Gifts Brighten Holiday Spirits
Thanks to all those who made special gifts to our youth and families to help them celebrate the season. We are grateful to the following for your generous donations:
Youth Action Team - Northwest Scarborough Youth Centre
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Scarborough Golf and Country Club Business Ladies Curling
Scotiabank Customer Care Team
Sucks No Socks Campaign (Jennifer Reginold)
Big Sisters Gay Venture Circle
Big Sisters Avenue Circle
Chum Christmas Wish Foundation
Aviva Winter Clothing Drive a huge success!
Bring on winter! Employees at Aviva Canada have once again generously contributed to YouthLink, collecting over 670 items through their annual Winter Clothing Drive and delivering them to our Warden office. In addition to individual donations, staff teams took on the challenge of putting together an entire winter wardrobe for a single youth consisting of a coat, boots, mittens/gloves, scarf and toque/hat. Special thanks Christine Rupnaraine, Corporate Responsibility Manager for organizing the drive and to the “Aviva Almost Angels” team from the IT and Facilities Department who did a remarkable job of outfitting 38 youth with new winter wardrobes, making midnight shopping trips to Walmart as part of their efforts!
YouthLink is a proud to partner with Aviva Canada in their Street to School initiative.
Highlights from our 2011 AGM
Thanks to all our participants at the September AGM, especially to our guest speakers Pamela Beharry and Kirishaa Sathunam for talking about their personal involvement with YouthLink. Read their stories and more in our 2010-2011 Annual Report
