Shared Learning:

With generous funding from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration’s Partnership Grant Program, the Agency Mentorship Program (AMP) will be developing two new program pieces: the Power of One program, a community investment and volunteer matching program, and the Shared Learning stream.  Shared Learning, part of the AMP, is comprised of a series of inter-related toolkits based on the AMP content and principles.  Geared towards helping youth-led organizations build their capacity, and supported by our community partners Harmony Movement and the Learning Enrichment Foundation, the toolkits will cover a variety of topics, and support the development of technical and adaptive skills.  The toolkits will be comprised of learning guides, online modules, resources, templates and tools.  We want to ensure that AMP’s teachings are shared and made accessible to the largest possible audience regardless of location or timeframe. 

The AMP’s goal is to strengthen the infrastructure and ensure the sustainability of youth-led organizations and the youth-led sector in general.  We believe that the provision of supports must be long-term and accessible.  If you would like to learn more about Shared Learning or any other aspects of the Agency Mentorship Program, please contact Christa: christa@foryouth.ca or call 416-653-3311 ext. 232.

For more information on Harmony Movement, please visit: http://harmony.ca 

For more information on Learning Enrichment Foundation, please visit: http://www.lefca.org/

 Advisory Committee:

FYI’s Agency Mentorship Program (AMP) is dedicated to providing capacity-building supports to youth-led organizations and groups serving young people in Toronto.  To ensure we provide the best possible supports in the most meaningful way, AMP has engaged leaders with a variety to expertise and perspective to sit on AMP’s Advisory Committee.  The Advisory Committee meets once every two months to review and provide feedback on program design, implementation, evaluation, resources and program content.  Advisory Committee members are also welcome to participate in the AMP to the extent that works for them, for example  co-facilitating a training or workshop or being a mentor for a youth-led organization.

The Advisory Committee welcomes individuals of all ages and cultures, with knowledge in any number of topics and with unique and thoughtful input.  In particular, we welcome young people ages 18-24 to the committee, valuing their perspective and skills.  If you are interested in joining the Advisory Committee, please contact the Agency Mentorship Coordinator, Christa: christa@foryouth.ca or 416-653-3311 ext. 232. 

Build the Legacy: Agency Mentorship Program

Over the years FYI has been able to push the for-youth-by-youth model and with the help of a number of community stakeholders have been able to build its capacity to go from a community project to an incorporated youth organization.

FYI was funded by the Youth Challenge Fund to create a mentorship program where we could share our learning’s with other youth organizations through a structured program and offer resources such as infrastructure building, admin space, etc in order to help these organizations build their capacities. With this program we aim to offer opportunities to assist youth-led organizations to continue doing their work more effectively within their community and be better prepared to advocate for change at the key decision making tables they have been historically excluded from.

Following FYI’s ‘for-youth, by-youth’ model, the Agency Mentorship Program (AMP) is an initiative whereby FYI provides capacity building support to fledgling youth-led organizations serving Toronto’s 13 priority neighbourhoods.  With the selection of three mentorship groups and five trusteeship groups, AMP is progressing towards the end goal of strengthened youth-led organizations and a vibrant and sustainable youth-led sector.

Housed in the newly renovated 1652 Keele Street space.  Through the facilitation of training, provision of one-on-one mentorship and facilitation of partnership and network development, each organization will be better equipped to provide programs and services to underserved youth, advocate on behalf of marginalized youth, and become key partners and contacts in social sector networks.

With the combined assistance and support of the Youth Challenge Fund and the City of Toronto’s Community Services Partnerships, For Youth Initiative aims to build both capacity and leadership in youth-led organizations serving Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods.

For More information on the Agency Mentorship Program contact:

Christa Romaldi
Agency Mentorship Coordinator
For Youth Initiative
1652 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M6M 3W3
T: 416.653.3311 ext 232
C: 416-779-1076
F: 416.653.3423
E: christa@foryouth.ca 

Agency Mentorship Program LAUNCH-June 1st

The Agency Mentorship Program held its official Launch on Wednesday, June 1^st at FYI’s newly renovated 1652 Keele Street site.  The event marked the official commencement of FYI’s Agency Mentorship Program, part of the Legacy Initiative funded by the Youth Challenge Fund, which is designed to support youth-led organizations as they develop organizational capacity.  The Launch also served as the official announcement of the three youth-led organizations selected for funding.  FYI would like to congratulate and welcome the Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre (CanTYD), Eritrean Youth Coalition (EYC), and Young Diplomats (YD) to the Agency Mentorship Program. 

The Launch provided CanTYD, EYC and YD the opportunity to meet one another and share their organization’s mission, mandate, and programming.  The Launch is the first step in what we hope is a truly collaborative and engaging process of development, through which the organizations can learn from each other in addition to sector experts and facilitators. 

Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre (CanTYD)

Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre (CanTYD) focuses on developing well-rounded youth in Toronto’s Tamil communities.  In addition to providing positive opportunities for youth to develop and be part of the community at large, CanTYD also houses programs and services that support youth through academic and career development, deter crime and violence, and support the development of healthy relationships between parents and youth. CanTYD employs interactive workshops during which youth can express their opinions and concerns, and receive expert guidance and support.  CanTYD’s programming includes recreational activities in the evenings to encourage youth to be active and healthy and social gatherings that facilitate communication between the generations.  All of CanTYD’s programs and services reflect the organization’s mandate in Toronto’s Tamil community.   

If you would like to learn more about CanTYD, please visit their website: http://cantyd.org/

Eritrean Youth Coalition (EYC)

The Eritrean Youth Coalition (EYC) exists to provide increased communication and collaboration among different segments of the Eritrean community in Toronto with the aim of facilitating dialogue around pertinent issues affecting youth today. Our purpose is to promote education and conduct advocacy using an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, participatory and transparent framework in order to build links among existing Eritrean and pan-African organizations and Canadian society at large. Through positive civic and political engagement we hope to contribute to the city-wide dialogue regarding service provision, capacity-building and empowerment for youth in such areas as immigration and settlement, health promotion, and education.

If you would like to learn more about EYC, please visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2440831801#!/group.php?gid=2440831801&v=wall

Young Diplomats (YD)

Young Diplomats is a group of young Ethiopian-Canadians who are creating meaningful and innovative experiences for themselves and their peers.  Young Diplomats envisions a vibrant and strengthened community of young people following their dreams and sharing resources with one another to make change happen.  We aim to improve quality of life through partnerships enabling: higher academic achievement, improved familial relationships, diverse career explorations, and fostering a sense of solidarity with the broader Canadian community.  We uphold our mission by creating programs with youth which meet one or more of our identified community needs: health, education, diaspora partnerships, and facilitating resources.

If you would like to learn more about YD, please visit their website: http://youngdiplomats.org/