Mentorship Program
Our mentorship program is the foundation of our work. We piloted the mentorship program in 2006 as one of our first responses to the recognition that youth lacked visible role models in their community. Youth needed to see, meet, and be supported by positive people that looked like them and understood their unique challenges and contexts. Since then, older youth and adult allies have stepped up and offered tremendous leadership and support to high school-aged youth through three main avenues:
- Academic Mentorship
Each week, volunteer college and university students attend weekly tutoring sessions where they offer their support to high school-age students at our tutoring site (Access Alliance | 3040 DanforthAveneue @ Victoria Park).
YD mentors and staff also promote and attend educational events (i.e.university/college fairs), offer post-secondary workshops, and provide career counseling and academic planning support wherever needed.
- Social Mentorship
Through summer activities and year-round events we create opportunities for youth to build meaningful personal relationships with positive older youth and peers.
Apart from our Summer Leadership Camp, past social mentorship events have included movie nights, beach barbeques, bowling, skating and arts festivals.
- Career Mentorship
Youth in our programs have access to a database of community professionals who are available as an informational resource and to help youth gain practical career information and guidance
We are currently working on organizing annual Meet and Greet Nights for youth to network and get to know professionals in our community, and for professionals to benefit from meeting such dynamic youth.
Summer Leadership Camp
Every year YD runs a Summer Leadership Camp where youth have an opportunity to get out of the city for 4 days to discuss issues that are important to them, gain leadership skills and create lasting friendships. Our camps include guest speakers, group discussions, presentations, outdoor activities (i.e. cannoning, swimming, hikes), group competitions and sports.
YD held a summer leadership camp themed What’s Your Passion? It was highly successful and challenged the youth to follow their passions, become leaders and build successful careers and lives.
In 2008 we hosted another successful camp, which focused on Identity. The youth were challenged to think critically about who they are and how they can make their mark on society. With the help of skits produced by their peers, inspirational guest speakers and thoughtful discussions, the youth engaged with issues related to gender, racial, and cultural identity.
The 2009 edition of our camp was themed Success and youth were encouraged to examine and reconsider their definitions of success and personal development. We were excited to share the stage with youth facilitators from Sound the Horn productions as well as Emerge Young Leaders Program.
The theme for 2010 is “Choices”. Sometimes as youth it is easy to think that we have little power over what we do or where we are heading in life. Our goal this year at camp is to challenge this and to help you realize that your life is full of choices. Where are you at now? What choices have you made to get you here – good or bad? What choices do you wish you had? What resources do you have available to you? These are all questions we will explore together at camp.
