ResQ Youth International looks forward to 2023; Recipient of $73,800 Resilient Communities Fund Grant

BY PAUL JUNOR

For over twenty years, ResQ Youth International continues to provide services and programs to help marginalized and underserved youth in the Greater Toronto Area. Since it was launched in 2001 as a non-profit community organization of: law enforcers, educators, crown attorneys, and community representatives, they have delivered effective programs to assist at-risk youth. While its core programs have focused on: counselling, education, mediation and mentoring it has added several other programs to meet demands for specialized and culturally appropriate services.

On Friday, December 16^th, 2022, ResQ revealed that it had been the recipient of a $73,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), which will go towards offering additional services to youth in the GTA. The funding will support rebuilding and recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 through staff development and creating education support for Black high school students in Peel.

Charmaine Williams, MPP for Brampton Centre who served as Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity states in the press release, “The Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital Grant is going to help many organizations to ensure young people have the resources they need to be successful. Out of the 417 non-profit organizations that have won this grant. I am happy to say that ResQ Youth International, an organization in my riding, is one of them. Not only will this grant support the youth who are able to thrive from the ResQ Youth Program now, but it will also help to better safeguard their futures and the future of our community through their actions.”

Currently, ResQ has been offering academic support programs for students in Math, English and Science. In addition, to its: counselling, mentoring, and STEM programs. More than 259 youth have personally benefited from the tutoring program that was delivered online, and from the ResQ Youth office located at 289 Rutherford Road in Brampton.

There have been more than 160 youth and families who have benefited from the range of diversified programs and activities that are offered. These programs have been made freely available and they intend to fulfil certain objectives. These include providing an opportunity for Black youth to safely recalibrate: thoughts, emotions, ideas, and expressions to readjust to their educational and personal goals in an ever-changing world.

The funding will not only support our youth, but also allow for the hiring of a: consultant, a tutor, a youth worker, and a program coordinator. Additionally, the grant allowed ResQ to acquire personal safety equipment and technological devices to improve communication, and increase the delivery of services.

On Friday, December 16^th, 2022, ResQ Youth International held their annual holiday celebration event in Brampton. In attendance at the event was: the Honourable Charmaine Williams, MPP (Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity), Dr. Walter Joseph (Chair of ResQ), Abigail Hamilton  (Executive Director of ResQ), Jermaine Chambers (Candidate in the last Municipal Election), and Sarbjeet Saini (Volunteer with Ontario Trillium Foundation).

I spoke to Abigail about the plans that she has for ResQ for 2023. She is excited about the funding that she has received in terms of how it will help ResQ fulfil its mission and vision. She is particularly interested in recruiting more volunteers and individuals to provide tutoring in the Peel District School Board.

Anyone interested in programs and services that ResQ offers can check the following:

Website:www.resqyouth.com

Facebook: resqyouthintl@yahoo.ca

Twitter: @ResqYouth