Friends in Trouble Youth Initiative

http://www.friendsintrouble.ca/

Designed by youth to engage their peers in positive skill development activities, Friends in Trouble aims to increase the leadership abilities and improve employment skills of the hardest-to-reach youth in Jane-Finch.

It consists of three main components: FIT Studios - an interactive studio program for youth interested in entering the music industry; FIT Visions - a video and photography program that develops writing and media skills; and FITech - a program that teaches computer literacy, computer building and repair, web design and entrepreneurship.

The initiative also offers counselling, mentoring and advocacy services, as well as workshops on pertinent life issues. There is also a summer program, which runs daily for 8 weeks, with a focus on music composition. Operating out of Downsview Park, 150 youth are engaged in the initiative, 80 of whom are ages 11-18 and 70 of whom are 19-24.

All F.I.T. staff are young men from the street – they are the voices of Jane-Finch. This means they are able to reach youth who are disengaged from their community. F.I.T. employs motivated young people with skills who are marginalized and have a criminal record or poor education. This opportunity has sparked their interest in entrepreneurship and returning to school.

15 youth have been involved in developing the programs and are building skills in program planning, computer literacy, creating budgets, conducting outreach, promotions, workshop creation and delivery, supervising programs, teamwork and leadership.