Service
The service pillar has successfully hosted fundraising events, including a charity yoga class in collaboration with Studio 330, a charity dish fundraiser at Union Kitchen and Cocktails (located in Kingston, Ontario), and a charity spike-ball tournament sponsored by Twisted Tea, Cottage Springs, and Truly Hard Seltzer.
To date, three bag drives have been held in support of youth experiencing homelessness through the direction of the service team. In the Spring of 2022, our organization recognized that other communities, including Ukrainian refugees, are also at-risk and in-need of basic items. We donated backpacks and bags to the Toronto, Ontario-based organization Ukrainian Medical Support (UAMS) so that these individuals may receive them upon their arrival in Canada or directly in Ukraine.
Advocacy
The advocacy team seeks to amplify the voices of at-risk youth by advocating for ethical social programmes to assist homeless youth. Our advocacy pillar is currently working towards establishing a mentorship programme by pairing at-risk youth with post-secondary students in the Kingston region to provide opportunities for growth and guidance in a one-on-one setting.
Both emotional support and planning for the future will be incorporated into the programme, which will take place through engaging recreational activities on a virtual platform or in-person format. We believe that this programme will complement the bag drive by expanding our organization's ability to reach a larger number of at-risk youth and provide them with one-on-one support as they navigate a period of transition in their lives.
Education
The education team designed an asynchronous workshop programme to be delivered in an educational setting and centred on the issues affecting homeless youth. This includes food insecurity, period poverty, inequitable access to health care, intersectionality, barriers, and legal systems.
In addition to the bag drives, the educational workshops aim to educate elementary and high school students on the crucial issue of homeless youth. We recognize the importance of educating youth so they may understand the difficulties their peers may be facing and discuss the problem in a healthy manner.
