VWAT Family Services understands the unique challenges that youth face, particularly those who are newcomers to Canada. The transition to a new way of life can be difficult for young people, and they may feel isolated or disconnected from their community. To address this issue, VWAT Family Services has a youth program specifically designed for youth between the ages of 13 and 25.
Our Youth Programs are designed to provide opportunities for youth to participate, lead, and showcase their talents and abilities. We believe that all youth have unique skills and strengths, and our goal is to help them build their self-confidence and experience what it means to build healthy connections and contribute to the community.
Meeting friends: We provide a safe and welcoming environment where youth can connect with other young people from similar backgrounds. This can help them feel less isolated and more connected to their community.
Recreational activities: We offer a variety of recreational activities such as sports, games, and arts and crafts that are designed to be fun and engaging for youth.
Field trips: We organize field trips to different parts of Toronto, giving youth the opportunity to explore the city and learn about its history and culture.
Volunteering: We encourage youth to get involved in volunteer work, as this can be a great way for them to give back to the community and develop valuable skills.
Workshops: We offer workshops on a variety of topics such as leadership, communication, and goal-setting. These workshops are designed to help youth develop valuable skills that they can use throughout their lives.
Discussions: We facilitate critical discussions on issues that matter to youth, such as racism, bullying, and mental health. This helps youth to develop a deeper understanding of these issues and learn how to navigate them.
Overall, our Youth Programs are designed to provide a supportive and empowering environment for newcomer youth. We believe that by providing opportunities for youth to participate, lead, and showcase their talents and abilities, we can help them build their self-confidence and experience what it means to build healthy connections and contribute to the community.
The youth-led VWAT Youth Group is for you if you want to meet new friends, develop your leadership skills, and volunteer in the community!
As a member, you have the opportunity to make a real impact on our neighbourhood. Volunteer with us at the soup kitchen, lead the Games section at VWAT’s Annual Lantern Festival, participate in workshops that matter to you—you can do it with us!
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The 4 main goals of our group:
to develop an openness to new experiences
to develop a sense of social responsibility
to develop transferable skills in preparation for future career success
to support each other in forming strong supportive networks with our community and peers
The goals of our group are achieved by:
Group discussions within a supportive peer group environment
Meaningful volunteer opportunities within VWAT Family Services and partnering community organizations to provide skill-building opportunities
Transferable skills development training workshops
“Try-It” learning sessions for extracurricular activities
Mentorship by community builders and leaders
Location: 1756 St. Clair Ave West (VWAT Office)
Contact: youth@vwat.org
Want to connect with other kids this summer? Spend the summer exploring the city with other youth! Our fun itinerary includes trips to the beach, community pool, activities at the park, Ontario Science Centre, Royal Ontario Museum, bowling, rock climbing and many more activities!
Organized by members of our Youth Group, with the support of many of our Youth volunteers, the Summer Camp is a great opportunity for youth to gain leadership skills, organizational skills, accountability and responsibility, as well as to feel fulfilled and accomplished while having fun with campers. Volunteers can claim volunteer hours and paid positions are funded by the Canada Summer Jobs Program.
The NCC is a weekly program in collaboration with George Harvey C.I. students, and newcomer youth. The sessions are opportunities for students to get to know each other, play games, improve their English language skills, participate in group discussions on interesting topics and take part in field trips across the city—this program is for youth who want to connect with other peers at George Harvey.
Join us as a newcomer youth and see what we have to offer or as a Volunteer Student Mentor and help plan the sessions!
Time & Location: 1700 Keele St (George Harvey C.I.). Time: every Tuesday at lunch
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Join our Youth Group and receive news on work and volunteer opportunities, as well as FREE tickets to different sports, and cultural events in the city.
Discover all the resources we have for youth:
Marilyn Tran,
Youth Program Coordinator
Phone: 647-343-8928 ext 119
Email: mtran@vwat.org