2018 Grantees

2018 Grantees

Big Brothers Big Sisters Waterloo Region
Expanding Go Girls! to the Township of Wilmot
Go Girls! is a group mentoring program for girls ages 12-14 that focuses on physical activity, balanced eating and self-esteem. The single, most important goal of the program is to positively shape the lives of young women and girls by helping them build a positive self-image – setting them on a path to reach their full potential in life.

The expansion to the township of Wilmot will address needs of at-risk girls living in rural areas and positively impact their personal development.

Child Witness Centre
Waterloo Region Child and Youth Advocacy Centre
Supporting the Child Witness Centre as the lead agency in the implementation of the Waterloo Region Child and Youth Advocacy Centre service delivery model.

At the Waterloo Region Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC), specially-trained professionals investigate allegations of child abuse in a confidential, comforting, child/youth friendly and trauma-informed environment, and ensure children, youth and their families receive the support services they need.  Investigations can be intimidating and support for these kids has been fragmented.

Child Witness Centre
Core Programming
This grant is for the Child Witness Centre Empowering Youth to Use Their Voice and Be Heard program.  This program supports and empowers 30-50 youth to use their voice, be heard through the justice process and provides them with resources so they can heal.

Community Justice Initiatives
Youth Homelessness Prevention Conflict Resolution Project     
This program will assist youth at-risk of homelessness and their families/caregivers to resolve conflict together in an effort to prevent and reduce youth homelessness.
Community Justice Initiatives will work with referrals from Argus Residence for Youth Emergency Shelter Program, to reduce family conflict that leads to youth living on the street in unsafe settings that further places the youth in precarious situations that lead to criminal involvement.

House of Friendship
After School Mentorship program for Vulnerable Youth
The After School Mentorship program provides high-quality programs during the critical after-school time that build skills of vulnerable youth in four at risk neighbourhoods, Chandler Mowat, Kingsdale, Courtland Shelley and Sunnydale, to help them reach their full potential.

KW Counselling
Video Counselling for Youth, including LGBTQ+ Youth
KW Counselling is looking to establish video counselling “stations” within high schools to increase counselling access to youth, including LGBTQ+ youth.  Video counselling is a culturally relevant service mode for the youth of today who report their preference for   online supports.

Lutherwood Child and Youth Services
Music Therapy: Helping Youth with Serious Mental Health Challenges Thrive
When it’s hard for kids with serious mental health challenges to talk through their problems, music can help find a path to healing.  The music therapy program at Lutherwood helps kids find their strengths and successes.

Reception House
New Canadian Youth Connection Program
This program is to help refugee youth successfully integrate into the community and develop a sense of belonging. The initiative blends the expertise of Reception House Waterloo Region with depth of experience in the settlement sector supporting the most vulnerable newcomer, the governments assisted refugee, and Community Justice Initiatives who have adapted the Stride Circle model for reintegration of different constituents.

theMUSEUM of Ideas Transcending Objects
theMUSEUM’S Youth Council
Youth Council is a youth-led leadership program that provides a group of diverse youth from Waterloo Region in grades 8-12 the opportunity to develop important skills and confidence as they collaborate monthly to bring a group-driven project to life.  With Youth Council, the aim is to provide a safe and accessible space where a diverse group of youth, including vulnerable and marginalized youth, can find their “voice”.

Pathways to Education Canada
Program Innovation at Pathways Kitchener
This grant contributes to the core costs of delivering the Pathways Kitchener program and in doing so provide the program with the flexibility to respond to time-sensitive investments regarding projects that entail designing, testing, and implementing adaptations to the program that meet emerging unmet needs.

Sexual Assault Support Centre
Male Allies 
The purpose of the Males Allies program is to encourage male youth in developing a positive self-image, experience healthy relationships and avoid destructive behaviours by interaction with trained male peer-educators and role models in the community.

YMCA
Creating Pathways for Newcomer Youth in Waterloo Region
Newcomer youth in Waterloo Region will receive individual and group support, building connections that will enable them to see their place and value in the community.

The YMCA will support newcomer youth to develop personal connections and relationships with peers and adult roles models through interactions that are thoughtfully designed and facilitated through a variety of group programs including: Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW), Newcomer Theatre program, Conversation Circles, and the YMCA Newcomer Youth program.

YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo
Community Sheroes
Community Sheroes is a mentorship and social justice program that connects at-risk girls (grade 8 through 12) with women in the community (18+) who are community leaders and social change agents.  This program focuses on developing  supportive relationships, leadership skills and helping young women become changemaking agents in their local community.