The program will start with addressing the high needs of the Oshawa community, with future goals to expand throughout Durham Region. Program (Students Meeting Achievement with Relational Tutoring Program)
Our children need our help. They are truly our hope for the future and without their success, our society will suffer. According to a poll of Elementary teachers, hunger by far is the greatest c
ontributing factor to a child not being able to do well in school; safety and personal needs being met are a close second.
- 639,000 Canadian children live in poverty; 412,000 of these children live in Ontario
- 38% of food bank users in Canada are children under 18; 149,000 children in Ontario used the food bank in 2010
- Youth unemployment rate in the GTA is near 20%, more than 5% higher than the national rate
- In 2012, 28% of Canada's unemployed youth had never worked and were looking for their first job
- Approximately 11% of children ages 0-12 live below the poverty line in Durham Region
- 19.8% of children live in poverty in Oshawa
The S.M.A.R.T Program is designed to provide educational support to disadvantaged and at-risk children. We want to meet the needs of children who are most at risk of suffering from the effects of poverty and provide hope and practical solutions to improve their chances for success, now and in the future. These children are lacking resources that would assist with their basic needs and our program will assist with these needs. Our program provides a wholistic approach by addressing the physical/nutritional, mental/emotional, and creative needs of the child. Our program will provide support in a practical way by providing a healthy nutritional food component as part of the tutoring program. We will also care for the emotional/mental needs of the child by providing supportive, caring volunteers to work with the children. By also implementing an artistic component, we plan to bridge the achievement gap by allowing children a positive and free outlet to express themselves and gain a sense of accomplishment. In so doing, we believe this sense of accomplishment will be the spark that will transfer to their academic success. Research also shows that when children form disadvantaged families do poorly in their Primary years, Kindergarten to Grade 3, they may never catch up in the following years. This cycle can cause children to no longer believe in themselves. If this continues, they become aware that they are so far behind in those later years and recognize that they may never catch up, leading to behavioural issues or possible dropping out in high school.
- Stats Canada found that between 2008-2011 "Substantial declines in employment among the least educated, that is persons with less than a high school diploma,... by 16% in Ontario..." for those aged 15 or older
Every child is special and filled with purpose, no matter what circumstances they come from. We want to help children to fulfill that purpose, and become valuable contributors to society. Program will help children regain hope for the future and dream dreams and believe they can achieve them. Nothing is impossible for our children if they just don’t give up.
