LET'S EDUCATE AND PREPARE YOUTH BURSARY PROGRAM

The Let’s Educate and Prepare Youth Bursary Program (LEAP) was established in 1991.

Originally, LEAP was an extension of a part-time student employment program operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Downtown Toronto.

The Boys & Girls Club of Downtown Toronto hired many part-time students to run various programs at the Club. There was extensive training involved and these part-time workers provided the programs directly to the children and younger youth of Regent Park.

As a condition of employment these part-time employees were required to stay in school. Over time, these students evolved in to role models for the younger children. As a result, the younger children placed a greater importance on education and began to see post-secondary education as an option. The provincial government would only fund these high school students for two years. To permit these well-trained youth to continue working, LEAP was established so that the youth could continue their education at the post-secondary level.

The name, "Let’s Educate and Prepare Youth Bursary Program" is a misnomer because we do not provide students with a bursary. Instead, we arrange part-time employment during the school year and indirectly pay the students wages. LEAP currently provides $ 2192 per student per academic year to our partner organizations. This allows each student to work on average 10 hours per week during the school year. The students work 16 weeks each term and are paid $ 6.85 per hour. In other words, the students work for their pay. This reinforces LEAP’s commitment to self-reliance.

LEAP has expanded its reach by also partnering with the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre which provides support to children in care (ie. foster children). The following is the story of one of the LEAP students who worked at PARC:

Roxanne is studying at the University of Toronto through the Transitional Year Program with a goal to gaining a BA Hon. in Commerce. She was hired as PARC's "First Break" Job Youth leader. Roxanne helps to find employers who might hire PARC'S high school students part time. She facilitates workshops for the youth she places around employment skills, e.g. resume writing, job interviews, etc. She visits PARC youth on the job as a "job coach". Roxanne is a remarkable young woman who has always been someone who has contributed to the PARC community. It was great to have the opportunity to harness her skills while helping her attend University.

Summary of LEAP’s Program

LEAP identifies groups of disadvantaged youth who have difficulties accessing post-secondary education, and identify partner non-profit organizations.

LEAP has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Downtown Toronto in the Regent Park area of Toronto, Ontario, and the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre which is located on Pape Avenue south of the Danforth in Toronto, Ontario.

LEAP provides funding to partner organizations who employ individuals during the school year.

LEAP students work with younger youth and children from their own communities and emphasize the importance of education and self-reliance.

LEAP students are role models to younger children in their communities.

For example, at PARC our students are children in care (ie. foster children) and the youth they work with are also children in care.

Without LEAP, these jobs would not exist, the students may not attend post-secondary school, and the younger youth would not be exposed to a role model from his/her community in this manner.

LEAP’s Target Population

• the primary direct beneficiaries are the LEAP students who earn wages while attending post-secondary education
• the indirect beneficiaries are other disadvantaged youth from the same community who work with our students
• for each $ 2192 raised, one student can directly benefit from this program, and 5 to 10 youth indirectly benefit from the program

For more information about LEAP, please e-mail Doug MacLeod at doug@dougmacleod.com or call him at (416) 977-9894.

LEAP’s mailing addrerss is Suite 1700, 22 St. Clair Ave E, Toronto, Ontario M4T 2S3