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“The Peer Project - Youth Assisting Youth.” Katie Couric - You Can Watch #GenderRevolution Right Here,..., www.facebook.com/thepeerproject.

“Youth Assisting Youth | Youth Mentor Programs.” The Peer Project, thepeerproject.com/.

“YOUTH ASSISTING YOUTH - Quick View.” REGISTERED Charity's Return - Quick View, 23 Oct. 2017, apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/t3010form22quickview-eng.action?&fpe=2017-03-31&b=119307478RR0001

“Youth Assisting Youth through The Peer Project in Toronto.” Toronto Guardian, 11 Mar. 2017, torontoguardian.com/2017/03/the-peer-project/.

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Several events are held during the year (often more than 4 per month). Although some are free to attend, there are a few that require an entrance fee. These events held also promote participants to donate to the organization. However, their main focus is to look for new opportunities for new sources of funding (such as more government grants)

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Funding
Most of their revenue that are not donations come from government grants. All of their equipment and supplies are charitable donations from their sponsors and other organizations
*End of March 2017, their revenue amounted to $1,244,857

Receipted donations $271,025 (22%)

Non-receipted donations $285,543 (23%)

Gifts from other charities $193,622 (16%)

Government funding $494,073 (40%)

Spending:
Most of their revenue goes to events that are catered for the mentor and mentee.  Most events are free to attend, due to the fact that most mentors do not have the money to spend - because of this, it is very hard to raise money for the charity
*End of March 2017, they had a total of $1,248,748 to spend

Charitable program $998,996 (80%)

Management and administration $51,363 (4%)

Fundraising $12,444 (1%)

Other $185,945 (15%)

The mural in their office with all their sponsors (the stars)

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Location
5734 Younge St. #401 Toronto, Ontario M2M 4E7
Email:

mail@yay.org

Phone

4169321919

18779321919

Social Media

Facebook: facebook.com/thepeerproject

Twitter: @peerproject

Instagram: @thepeerproject

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2015 Volunteer Toronto Legacy Award

2014 Bhayana Family Foundation Award - Dedication, Mona Dogen

2013 Toronto Foundation - Vital Youth Award - Youth Mentoring Program

2012 Harlequin "More than Words" Award - Sally Spencer

2010 Toronto Foundation - Vital Youth Award - Girls Only Program

2010 State Farm Good Neighbour Award

2010 Bhayana Family Foundation Award - Team Achievement

2006 Dubai International Award for Best Practises

2004 Mayor's Community Safety Award

2003 Ministry of Citizenship Outstanding Achievement Award

2001 Ruth Atkinson Hindmarsh Award

2000 Diana Princess of Wales Foundation Award

1994 City of Toronto Safe City Award

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Mentees

This program benefits mentees by providing them with guidance for life and school.

Mentors can also provide mentees a shoulder to lean on in times of need

This program can ultimately save lives and let mentees know that they are needed in the world

Can participate in community events that are free to go to

Mentors

Mentors can feel a sense of accomplishment when seeing their mentee strive in life

Mentees provides mentors with friendship

Mentors can gain skills that are transferable to jobs

Events are free for volunteers

Parents

Provides parents with another positive role model for their child(ren)

Social workers are available to aid families with any problems (adjusting to a new country, employment issues, etc.)

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1976
Youth Assisting Youth was started due to an influx of juvenile crime. This was because of a sudden increase in immigrants that were vulnerable and easily influenced to join gangs. Juvenile delinquent facilities were over their capacity so programs were needed to treat those who could not be institutionalized. A group of parents, police and social workers in Scarborough came together and created Youth Assisting Youth - a program to help juvenile deviants.

1992
The organization then expanded as it got more recognized. YAY's audience had also expanded as they started to help youth with mental health issues, learning disabilities and newcomers. There was a huge shift in focus from crime prevention to all youth issues.

2010
Youth Assisting Youth adopted a new name "The Peer Project" after 40 years of operation in hopes to attract new volunteers due to the 400 kids waiting for a mentor.

2018
Unfortunately, the re-branding proved to be ineffective and actually caused confusion to those who have worked with The Peer Project in the past. Because of this, they will be changing their name back to Youth Assisting Youth.

A wall with old posters and newspaper features in the past

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According to a study done by The Peer Project, Resiliency Initiatives and Ontario Center of Excellence:

Mentees in the peer project commitment to learning and school culture increased by 50% on average after establishing a relationship and keeping that relationship for a year

Most parents, when asked, said that the 1:1 mentoring had a positive impact on their child

Parents observed significant increase in the child’s school and social performance

Conflicting schedules and difficulties with communication between mentor and mentee were a problem

Peer relationships seemed to have decreased within the mentees because the mentors already provide such strong support, the mentee does not feel the need to have peer relationships

According to Peer Project; they have a success rate of 98%

Peer project increases the chances of someone going to university from 22% to 40% (Carlson)

http://www.excellenceforchildandyouth.ca/sites/default/files/gai_attach/EDG-     1596_Final_Outcomes_Report.pdf

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Volunteers apply to be mentors

Ages 16-29

1. Mentors fill out an application on their website. One of their recruiters will review it and if they decide that you are a good fit, they will schedule a telephone screening.

2. A social worker will go to the mentor's home and perform an assessment and interview. This is because they need to make sure they are responsible

3. A police background check will take place to see if the volunteer has been in trouble with the law or with minors (in such case they are ineligible for the program)

4. Two mandatory training sessions; mentoring 101 which is 4-5 hours (discusses what mentoring is, child abuse information needed, communication skills, child management, anti-racism, anti-harassment, culture and diversity, inclusiveness) and youth mental health & learning disabilities 4 hours (diff. types of challenges, mental health issues, learning disabilities)

5. Matching process: very strict, matched based on gender (ONLY same gender matches to preserve interest and consistence), location, special needs, interests, and background

Staff

Under 25 people on the team

2 social workers that supervise mentor-mentee relationships, and providing support to the mentee's family

2 event planners that plan multiple events each month for mentors to take their mentees

Director of Finance makes almost 100% of all pitches to the government or other organizations for grants, donations and ultimately, a source of funding for the charity

The organization has a board of directors that consist of ex-mentors and current mentors.

They watch over the organization and advise major decisions.

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Peer Project holds several events each year for fundraising and mentor-mentee bonding.

Weekly Events

The Peer Project sponsors free weekly events

Kids and their mentors can participate to play sports and other educational activities to bond

Special Events

Special events are held throughout the year

Ex. Winter Carnival, Annual Family Picnic and 3-day Summer Camp

Fundraising

Several events held throughout the year focused on activities with the youth

Ex. Kids in the Kitchen, Bowling Fun and Paint Night

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The Peer Project provide a number of programs for different people, providing each of them with a fun, learning experience.

‘Peer-To-Peer Mentoring’

Ages 16-29 mentor ages 6-15 about school and life in Canada.

‘Clicks and Stones’

An educator (often a mother of a child who has been cyber bullied) mentors a class of grade 7-8s about cyber bullying  and how to fight it.

‘Mental-Health Training’

Training mentors on mental health and helping mentors help mentees to develop healthy lifestyles.

‘Girls-Only Group Mentoring’

Female newcomers (immigrants) are mentored over a period of 10 weeks about girls and women empowerment. This program is tailored to each mentee's individual needs. The program teaches lessons like emotional well-being and self-defense.

‘Saddle-Up For Success’

This program is focused on newcomers and at-risk kids. These kids travel out of the city and learn how to ride and take care of horses.

‘Learning Disabilities Training’

Training mentors to understand different disabilities. This helps mentors understand how different people learn differently and some may have more difficulties than others. This program ensures that these at-risk kids are getting the best mentoring they can receive.

‘Tri-Mentoring Program’

The Peer Project matches up youth with older mentors so they can learn from those who have had more experience in the work force. This can help develop the mentee's professional goals through networking and guidance.

A board with pictures of mentors and mentees together

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The Peer Project, formerly known as Youth Assisting Youth is focused on keeping the youth out of the criminal justice system. However, they also help immigrants and at-risk children to strive in school and life. These children are paired with mentors through an elaborate match-making system. This system considers many factors such as; interest, background, gender, location, character, special needs, common goals and much more. Mentors provide their mentees with academic assistance while helping them develop life skills such as leadership, communication and self-confidence.

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Mission Statement:

Youth Assisting Youth (YAY) is a voluntary community-based mentoring organization committed to promoting the healthy growth and development of young people, strengthening families and responding to and supporting changing community needs.

Motto:

Make a friend. Change a life.