Mental health, education, and employment programs NOW being offered to youth in the GTA

BY PAUL JUNOR

It has been over thirteen years that the non-profit organization “Life of Hope Foundation” has been making a difference in the lives of vulnerable and at-risk youth.

Their mission is grounded in distinctive Christian values. They are focused on providing mental health support, educational, employment and career pathway programs for the youth in our communities.

One of the biblical verses that is integral to the vision of the charity is Matthew 11: 28. It states, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry-heavy burdens, and I will give rest.”

The website notes, “God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain, but he did promise us strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light (hope) for the way.”

The organization was founded by Anika Stella Onile, who graduated with a background in accounting from Ryerson University in 1999. She experienced homelessness first-hand and lived in a group home at the age of 17 years old; the foundation is influenced by this understanding. She knows she was called by God to serve her community, and give hope to the: vulnerable, lost, neglected and abandoned youth.

She states, “I’ve been privileged to be called to serve my community, especially youth in need. Life of Hope is about my experience – my real-life experiences living in a group home and the barriers that at-risk youth face on a daily basis.”

Some of the services and programs offered by the charity include:

• Financial literacy: provide at-risk youth the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions about managing money which includes understanding credit and debt, saving, investing and tax preparation
• Mentorship: allows our youth to connect with someone that can guide them with their personal and professional development while showing compassion and empathy to their day-to-day struggles
• Tutoring support: free tutorial classes and academic coaching to students of low-income families in Grades 6 – 12 Mathematics, Science, English, Chemistry and Physics run online by professional instructors and recent university graduate
• Food and grocery relief: organizes events to distribute food (non-perishable grocery items), hygiene kits, grocery gift cards and other necessities to low- income communities
• Trades apprenticeship: we partner with the top trade training centers such Mississauga Trades, York Construction Academy, and Infrastructure Health and Safety Associations to deliver practical hands-on training to at-risk youth. We focus mainly in the areas of Construction & Maintenance Technician, Powerline Apprenticeship, Technician, or Cabinetry and Furniture Making

I interviewed Anike on Wednesday, July 13^th, 2022. She shared with me that she was working for the provincial government at the Ministry of Labour but left in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic to start her charitable organization.

Anike was born in Nigeria, but her charity works with individuals from all communities. She is particularly focused on getting Blacks into trades as they are unrepresented in many of the 27 sectors. She told me that three Jamaicans have graduated from a 3-month apprenticeship program.

On Saturday, July 2^nd, 2022, Life of Hope Foundation hosted a Canada Family Day event at 2600 Skymark Avenue in Mississauga, sponsored by Alectra. The event featured a: barbecue, music, refreshments, and giveaways. Those who registered in advance received grocery boxes and gift cards.

Adenike is grateful for the support that she has received and plans to host other events in the fall and during the Christmas season.

Anyone interested in learning about the work of Life of Hope Foundation can visit lifeofhopefoundation.com.