March 29, 2024

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How a program for college kids in want helped this GTA man get the profession he all the time wished

How a program for college kids in want helped this GTA man get the profession he all the time wished

Muzammil Syed all the time dreamed of working in well being care however had no concept methods to go about charting a path.

Then, due to a fellow newcomer, he discovered a couple of group program that goals to break the cycle of poverty by way of training. Syed, who got here to Toronto from Saudi Arabia at age 15, joined Pathways to Schooling and by no means regarded again.

He went on to earn a grasp’s diploma and is now a medical researcher at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital.

“A whole lot of newcomers come from nations the place they do not essentially select a vocation; generally I believe we simply take any job as a result of that is all we all know,” Syed informed CBC Information. 

“Pathways form of expanded our horizons. It says, ‘Hey, that is an possibility, but it surely’s not the one possibility.'”

Younger individuals like Syed are precisely who Pathways to Schooling goals to succeed in. The free program supplies monetary assist, tutoring, profession steering and a group for lower-income college students, lots of them newcomers — one thing the group says is especially essential provided that as many as 50 per cent of youth in low-income communities do not earn a diploma.

‘A tradition of excessive expectations’

“In these communities, when the dropout charges had been so excessive, it was so widespread that college students simply accepted that it could be their future,” stated Quinn Bingham, considered one of Pathways to Schooling Canada’s vice presidents.

However this program “creates one thing I believe is basically essential and that may be a tradition of excessive expectations,” Bingham stated.

“They’ve a peer group that is saying, “No, you are a part of us, we’re all going to graduate.”

This system acknowledges highschool commencement as a step on somebody’s journey, not an finish level, Bingham says. 

It additionally works with present group companions that will have already got a bodily house and have the belief of the group already, he says.

Pathways To Schooling supplies tutoring and monetary help. It helps younger individuals uncover their profession paths, whereas emphasizing that getting a highschool diploma is only one a part of the journey, not the final step. (Submitted by: Pathways to Schooling)

For some households, the monetary element of this system is what will get younger individuals throughout the convocation stage. 

Bingham remembers a household that was excited to have each daughters be part of this system, “as a result of they had been struggling to determine which of the 2 women might go to high school on a given day. They could not afford the transit tokens.” 

Transit tokens are considered one of many monetary choices. Others embody cash for college provides. Graduating college students additionally obtain $2,000 that they’ll put towards post-secondary training, shopping for new work garments and tools or no matter they want of their subsequent steps after highschool, he says.

Tutoring is one other large one, he says. Many households this system works with wouldn’t be capable of afford tutoring and fogeys working a number of jobs to make ends meet may not have as a lot time to assist their kids with tutorial challenges themselves, Bingham says.

Program will get $1M from Scotiabank

Pathway to Schooling runs on a mixture of authorities grants and particular person and company donations, a few of which it solicits on its web site. 

With a latest funding of practically $1 million from Scotiabank, the free program will assist much more younger individuals, Bingham says. 

Matthew Teghtmeyer, a supervisor at a Pathways to Schooling program run by group companion Pinecrest-Queensway Neighborhood Well being Centre in Ottawa, says he thinks utilizing group companions has made all of the distinction in bringing youth into the fold due to the years of belief the centre has earned.

“It makes it simple to recruit youth for this system,” he stated. When persons are coming to the centre for different issues, from utilizing a meals financial institution to attending a parenting program, the centre lets them learn about Pathways to Schooling, he says.

Matthew Teghtmeyer, a supervisor at a group program in Ottawa, says highschool commencement charges have climbed by about 30 per cent since Pathways To Schooling began in his space. (Submitted by: Matthew Teghtmeyer)

The centre has additionally been protecting rating, measuring commencement charges.

In 2007, when this system started, the group served by the centre in west-end of Ottawa had a highschool commencement price of solely 52 per cent, he says. However now, 80 per cent of scholars are graduating from highschool and lots of are finishing their post-secondary training as effectively. 

Syed attended YouthLink, a group companion with this system in Scarborough. Alejandra Cabezas, a senior supervisor there, says the will increase in commencement charges and marks are one factor, however there may be additionally lots to this system that may’t be measured. 

“Being transplanted as a teenager is not simple,” she stated. “To really feel such as you belong right here issues. Individuals know you. You might be not the one that simply bought right here. All it’s important to say is you’re a part of Pathways and another person will say, “Me too.'”

When youth are going through challenges at college or with what they’d love to do subsequent, they all of a sudden have the assist of an entire establishment behind them, she says.

Cabezas says whereas this system is for youth, it impacts complete communities, as a result of dad and mom with youth in this system join and alumni return and assist out. Individuals grow to be extra invested within the well-being of their group. 

In the meantime, Syed has one thing to say to everybody listening to about this system and questioning if it is actually for them.

“Enroll. You do not have a lot to lose.”