Page Banner Sankofa 2020

Sankofa

Sankofa is a group of programs for youth between 13-29 of age. The program welcomes newcomers, out-of-status, racialized and/or underserved youth.

The goal is to support the healthy and positive development of participants. We deliver an engaging set of programs designed for-and-by-youth that focus on physical and mental health, the arts and environmental stewardship.

If you would like to register for any program, contact Hibo at hwarsame@culturelink.ca

Current Programs

Page Photo Sankofa Newcomer Club

THE NEWCOMER CLUB

The Newcomer Club is an after school program designed to facilitate the integration of newcomer students at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute. This program, in partnership with North York Community House, serves over 20 newly arrived students from all over the world. It provides weekly workshops and fun activities within a friendly environment. We encourage participants to mingle and and practise their communication skills. Every week, we teach a different life and leadership skill through arts, crafts and sports.

Some of the skills we cover are team-building, goal-setting, self-reflection, among others. The Newcomer Club is a safe and positive space where youth can get a sense of belonging.

Snacks and Community Hours are provided.

When & Where:

  • Day of the week to be determined, during the school year from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at 86 Montgomery Rd – Etobicoke Collegiate Institute. Room 237.

 

Page Photo Sankofa Global Roots

GLOBAL ROOTS

The Global Roots Garden is an intergenerational program that brings seniors and youth together. As a group, they learn how to garden, cook and even some environmental skills.

Youth work with senior newcomers to grow their own gardens and harvest the vegetables too. Participants also get to learn about nutrition and get to share healthy recipes and natural remedies. This program is run in partnership with The Stop Community Food Centre.

Snacks, TTC Tickets or Tokens, and community hours are provided.

When & Where:

  • Every Monday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. since late spring, throughout summer, until early fall, at 601 Christie St. – Artscape Wychwood Barns, Barn 4.

Past Programs

 

Page Photo Sankofa Latinx Mentorship Program

LATINX MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

This program focuses on two youth groups: Latin American newcomers and Canadian born with Latin American background. youth. The goal is to help them settle in Canada and to recover their cultural identity. Every session, guided by facilitators who are also Hispanic, teaches participants valuable skills. It helps that facilitators can relate to the youth’s experiences, having overcome multiple barriers themselves.

The program provides a safe space for newcomers to practice English, and for Canadians to practice Spanish. It is a perfect space to make friends, learn and get a sense of belonging. This program is run in partnership with Teach2Learn. *Workshops are facilitated in English and in Spanish.

Snacks, TTC Tickets or Tokens, and community hours are provided.

When & Where:

  • Every Monday during the school year from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. at 1280 Finch Av. West. Suit 201 – Centro Cultural Casa Maiz.
  • Every Tuesday during the school year from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. at 2141 Jane St. Room 100 – Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples.

Page Photo Sankofa Snowboardgin

SNOWBOARDING PROGRAM

During January and February 2020, CultureLink Youth had the opportunity to attend a six-week snowboarding program at Snow Valley. All participants were new to the sport. They learned everything from how to strap on to the board to how to slide smoothly down steep hills. Aside from the workout, participants got to interact with other peers. And, as the kids said, learning to snowboard made them feel more Canadian.

Some participants had been in Canada for less than a year, and their winter was even more meaningful because of this program (a partnership between Youth in Action and The Chill Foundation).

YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

The Youth Leadership Program is an education and leadership initiative held between CultureLink Settlement and Community Services and the UNHCR. We recruited 10 young people between the ages of 18 and 24 with no experience in refugee issues. Then, we helped them engage in the narratives and different experiences of refugees in Canada.

The program encourages young people to become active agents of change in their own community. We work on building their confidence and public speaking skills. That way, they will teach others about the different barriers and issues that refugees face around the world, but particularly in Canada.

For more information, read the YLP Final Report 2019.