Friday, June 27, 2008

We are We are 'Focus on Youth'

Congratulations to all of you- pre-employment training is done now the real fun begins.

Hope your first week of placements start super well, please contact your Area Program Monitors (APM) if you have any issues.

Myself and Kurt should be visiting your placements in the next month or so.

May this blog be another place that you can communicate about your summer experience within Focus on Youth.

Vladimir 
Project Coordinator
Focus on Youth

23 comments:

inth-lis said...

The focus on youth program training has taught me many things from first aid to child abuse to leadership skills. This experience has been unforgettable. I have learned how to treat people better from this program. This program has given me the opportunity to work with many students over Toronto and a chance to meet some amazing people.

Bluffz.Beebe said...

This week's pre-employment training has taught us many useful skill that we'd be able to use more efficiently in our future careers. The workshops were GREAT, and very informative, especially the diversity one. And also it made me feel good when the guys from the P.E.A.C.E movement kept on telling us that Toronto have the largest youth movement in all of North America.
Thanks alot for the trainings, and hopefully we'll be able to use them over the summer!

animaatk said...

loved the diversity workshop led by the harmony movement! this will definately make me think twice about the things i say and the way i perceive the people around me. Overall, the leadership training was a great expeience, and hopefully, next year, even more kids will get the chance to learn about things such as the importance of self-knowledge, communication, and being actively involved in your community in as much of a fun way as we did.

Elvis said...

We can be better only when we try to step up to do something. The focus on youth program has made a very gigantic improvement in my entire life. Now I believe in myself that I can make a difference in other people's life through the training I got at my first day at focus on youth program this year. The first aid training has improve and encourage me on my career in the near future of becoming a doctor. This program has also taught me how to live to aid other people, how to interact and treat them. It was the same program that taught me that, discipline is not the matter of punishment but it is the idea of correctiveness. THANK TO ALL TDSB STAFF, JAH BLESS!

coke said...

Along with everyone else, I've really gained a lot from 'Focus on Youth' and the program has barely started. In the 5 days of training, I learned a lot of information and skills which will no doubt be invaluable to me in my future.

I would really like to thank 'Focus on Youth' for this opportunity. This wasn't merely a job opportunity through which we were equipped with invaluable skills such as first aid training but also an opportunity to get involved in our communities and try to make them better. This program has provided the youth of Toronto to get involved and make a difference within our communities. What could possibly be better than that? What could possibly be a better way to spend your summer?

Thanks a lot 'Focus on Youth'!

Sea said...

The training this week for focus on youth was fun and interesting at the same time. It was a great opportunity for us to meet new people and learn different skills. All the workshops were appealing and they all had a different way to educate us. Yesterday's launch went very well and I enjoyed being wished good luck from everyone and being called "The Chosen Ones". This made me feel even more motivated and special to have gotten the job and I hope I do end up enjoying this summer meeting new students and working with kids. I guess I will just have to wait and see.

Thanks a lot to everyone that made this happen. I hope you all have a wonderful summer!

Umm Ayman said...

When you see ads on the television they often relate to their audience; shaving creme for men, hair dye for women, fast food, etc. Most advertisements are targeted for the youth because they are the most willing to buy products that are “in”. In this regard everything we’ve done this week has been “targeted” towards us but not for profit, instead for knowledge, for growth, for change, but most importantly for hope. They made us believe in ourselves on a whole different level and it’s safe to say they delivered what they promised. Unlike politics where politicians deliver false promises of hope the TDSB said they would focus on the youth and that’s exactly what they did.

Anonymous said...

CONGRADS TO ALL YOUTH WHO HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR!! I am very grateful and thankful for this opportunity because I value young people striving for success whatever their goals and dreams are. This week's training has been incredible from all the workshops to the guest speakers and meeting great people. I definately learned a lot and this week has motivated me to become a leader and opened my eyes to the world around me. This is what we should do. We should all be leaders and be active people in our community. Thank you FOY because I have peers and friends who need this type of program. It has been a pleasure meeting those of you who I have talked with and I wish you all luck in the future and in the summer! I am excited to begin work and I hope all of you are too.

sfsfefwfe said...

LETS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WORLD It is amazing of how much i have learned throughout this whole experience. It has made me have faith in myself once again. This program should continue to grow as long as there are youth out there who needs mentoring and support. It is been such a pleasure to learn from all these different organizations, and i will use this opportunity to past on the knowledge to my peers.

CON-GRADUATIONS FOCUS ON YOUTH! FOR ANOTHER SUCCESS YEAR!

Anonymous said...

I participated in Focus on Youth Toronto 2007 and it was definately created one of the best summers of my life. The pre-employment training not only prepared me for the job but other aspects of my life outside the workplace. This year, FOY has only gotten better and enabled me to grow even greater as a confident individual. I look forward to having another amazing summer as an employee of Focus on Youth 2008. Truly an amazing and beneficial program!

Anonymous said...

"ACTIONS ARE LOUDER THAN WORDS" The staff and speakers of Focus on Youth inspired me with that quote. To be a leader you need take action and get involved with your community. Seating on your couch saying that one day i will teach children to read, does not mean anything. If you really do want to make a difference in this world you need to stand up from the crowd and take action because no one will listen to you. You will not make any differences to this world. What i have learned by attending pre-employment training is that we have to stop wishing for things to happen and take action. So that other youth will see how much you have contributed to the commmunity and maybe they will learn from you. Because youth learn from youth.

Anonymous said...

This week has changed my entire life. It has taught me many things from real life experience. I never in my life expected that I will go through such an amazing experience. It made me meet many other great people. It taught me to do what I want to do. It taught to believe in myself so I can be better and can benefit others. It taught me that every single person in the world can do something even a little thing to benefit the society around us. I would like to thank every single one who contributed for helping this program to be successful, and I would like to thank every single one who helped me through this experience, and gave me this great opportunity to be in this fantastic program. Thank every one. Have a great summer.

Anonymous said...

The Focus on Youth Program of the TDSB is one-of-a-kind. They did not just teach us what's required for us to learn, but also things that would help us to be an asset in our own communities. This experience would be unforgettable for me. I just can't wait to touch the lives of the kids that we're working with, and I hope that this program would get bigger and bigger!:)

Anonymous said...

The training week changed my life for the better. I always wanted to learn first aid and CPR but I wasn't able to however with FOY I got to learn something which I am interested in. I now realize what my goals are and with my workplacement I will reach my goal. This is an amazing program to get more youth involved! Hopefully there will be more FOY summers to come. A huge THANK YOU goes to all the people involved in organizing and running this program geared for getting youth engaged! So, THANK YOU!!!!

Unknown said...

Focus on youth is the best experience I've had-and I will have in the following 6 weeks..after all, who wouldn't love training with pay+free lunch for one whole week?

Anonymous said...

This was an AMAZING opportunity in which gave us Youth a head start on life.
I thought it was very informative and an experience i will NEVER forget, I will keep the lessons taught to me forever.

thanks

:D

Anonymous said...

Focus on Youth is a very good program...its just ashame that more students don't get the opportunity we have experienced over the past week of training and the following weeks to follow...i want to thank all the people who took the time to share some important info. with us all ...HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH ALL THE STUDENTS FROM FOCUS ON YOUTH and live life to the fullest

Anonymous said...

I HOPE IT GETS BIGGER!!!
the young people are the future of this country. so why deny them the opportunity to succeed and be good influences?
all I know is that someday, when I have the money and the authority to implement a program like this, I would willingly do so. :)

Anonymous said...

CONGRADS TO ALL YOUTH WHO HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR!!

The focus on youth program training has taught me so many things that included first aid to child abuse to leadership skills.
I have learned how to treat people better from this program. The workshops were GREAT, and very informative. I would really like to thank 'Focus on Youth' for this opportunity. This has made me feel even more motivated and special to have gotten the job and I hope that I do end up enjoying this summer meeting new students and working with kids.

Anonymous said...

Firstly, I would like 2 congratulate everyone who made it this far. Secondly, I would like 2 thank 'Focus on Youth' for giving me a great experience to learn something new. The training was great it was informative and at the same time interesting. Thanka to Focus on Yoth I learned everything from CPR, fisrt aid, leadership and how to take the subway:P:D I learned how to respect others more because of the workshops. I loved the leadership workshop especially "real talk". My favourite quote that I heard in the workshop is "People might forget what you said and what you did but they will never forget how your words made then feel". Also I learned how to value money and spend it wisely because I worked to earn that money. This is a great program which gives a great opportunity to the youth. This program is important in the community for youth because we are the leaders of tomorrow. Hope this program runs for years to come so other youth can get the great opportunity that I got.

Thanks to all the Focus on Youth staff(all APM n Batman)for making this a great summer filled with great opportunity. TC

Anonymous said...

wow whatcan i say my first week and a half at my placement were horrrrible not great but very bad. My placement was very good though
the placement that i am at is very unorganized. we have a summer camp that has no kids so weve been sitting around staring at walls for a week and a half i hope i dont have to stay here for the rest of the summer

Anonymous said...

the focus on youth program for the summmer of 2008 has been a balst soo far. my placement has got me back into a sport i havent played since middle school and that is basketball. i enjoy waken up in da morning going to work to see all my beautiful lil childrens just waitin upon my arrivel. it was also sweet oneday that it was my birthday n they all made me little notes wishing me an happy birthday awwwwww.i but in alot of hard work n dedecation into this job at all times that means doing watever i got to for the kids and alos working more than the 7 hours tdsb is paying me without complaning. i hope i enjoy the rest of my weeks at my palcement amd maybe next year using this experience i can go off finding a job on my own
thank u to all thoese who helped but such a wonderful program together

ShubhamD said...

It is with great sadness and regret that I am unable to continue with Focus on Youth Toronto after this week. My dad just received word last Wednesday from his workplace that he will be going to Germany (head office) for 3 weeks (Aug 3 to Aug 19). As such, they also made arrangements for airfare for the entire family. This was too good of an opportunity to pass, though it was tough decision to make.

Keeping that aside, I would like to thank everyone involved with Focus on Youth Toronto for giving me the wonderful opportunity for the last two summers to be a part of such a great program. As I’ve said many a times, but I think it’s worth repeating. These last two summers has really changed, developed and evolved me as a person and an individual. This program has taught me many things, not only about work but about life. Ever since the Focus on Youth Program, I have become a much more vocal person who isn’t shy to voice his opinion. Admittedly, prior to this program I was a very shy person, who was very reserved. This program really forced me out of my comfort zone and enabled me to become a much more vocal person; not to mention a leader. At school, I was Co-President of the Student Council; Field Captain of the Robotics Team; Grade 9 Mentor; and Senior Video Yearbook Editor, just to name a few. I have also used by leadership skills to help start up a varsity Boys’ Cricket Team at my school. This program has also taught me about time management and prioritizing my tasks.

I believe that this program has an immense amount of possibilities to grow and become a vital part of our education system and granted the opportunity, I would like to use my experiences as a participant of Focus on Youth for the past two years to help out with the program next year. I think that it is very important to give back to the people who have brought you to where you are today! Focus on Youth continues to bring out the best of me and strives to unleash my potential, bit by bit!

I hope that this won’t be my last post on this blog, as I hope to keep myself updated with FOYT while I’m overseas!