Stop The Violence

Register

Youth Mentorship Program

In March 2006, The Argos Foundation piloted a Youth Mentorship Program developed in partnership with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, with specific input from a young male who had experienced first hand life inside a youth centre.  This pilot project was made possible by a start-up grant from the Department of Justice Canada through the Youth Justice Renewal Fund.  The program sees Argos players visit and mentor youth inside a full custody youth centre in an effort to stop the violence in the GTA and beyond.

Argos players are part of a structured group program that focuses on a variety of real and relevant issues.  Some of these issues include positive choices, attitudes and values, substance abuse, healthy relationships, and other appropriate discussions that assist the young people to achieve a responsible non-violent lifestyle and re-integrate successfully back into the community.  Through this mentorship, the group can work together to discuss their previous choices and behaviours that led them to being incarcerated, while working towards the end goal of encouraging a substantial lifestyle change once released from custody.

The players currently involved in this program are all serving as mentors and positive role models for the young males at Sprucedale Youth Centre.  Each of these players have experienced their own life lessons and are committed to sharing their experiences and insights with young men who need it most.

Since the completion of this 6-week pilot, the board of directors for The Argos Foundation has identified the Youth Mentorship Program as one of the core programs of The Argos Foundation. The continuation of the program is now sustained with private sector and fundraising activity contributions.