Somali Youth Association of Toronto (SOYAT): Bridging Cultural Divides

http://www.soyat.org/

The initiative hired a local Somali youth as a coordinator to collaborate with approximately 15 other community organizations in the west-end priority neighbourhoods of Jane-Finch, Weston-Mt. Dennis and Jamestown to help them better understand the needs of Somali youth when engaging them in community programs.

The significant population of Somali families living in these neighbourhoods were in need of additional support to become engaged in the larger community.

Some of the partner organizations included: Toronto Community Housing, Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, PEACH, MicroSkills, UrbanArts and the YMCA.

Members of these organizations worked directly with SOYAT and the coordinator through consultations and training workshops, which helped them understand the specific needs of this ethnocultural group.

Over 250 youth were impacted through Bridging Cultural Divides, as these community agencies and institutions are now better equipped to support Somali youth participants in their respective programs. The initiative will continue to create access and opportunities for Somali youth to be connected to the larger community, as a partner in the Social Enterprise Centre Of Excellence Legacy Initiative.