TORONTO – Bell Canada announced today a donation of $300,000 to Pathways Canada to create a Pathways to Education pilot program with the intention of extending this groundbreaking program to other provinces.
Pathways to Education is a community-based program dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and its effects by supporting the development of youth from economically disadvantaged communities. The program looks at education and income as the two principal social determinants of the health of individuals and of the community.
"Based on the outstanding results of the Regent Park program, Bell Canada and Pathways Canada have agreed to develop a pilot program," said Jim Little, senior vice-president corporate marketing, Bell Canada.
Toronto’s Regent Park is the oldest, largest and one of the poorest public housing projects in Canada. Over 60% of residents are immigrants with an average family income of only $18,000 per year. In addition, there are no high schools in the community which, combined with other pressures, has historically led to a drop out rate of 56% – twice the Toronto average.
The Pathways to Education Program provides a comprehensive blend of supports to at-risk young people so that they can get to school, stay in school, graduate and pursue post-secondary education or work.
Since the Regent Park program launched in September, 2001, the Pathways to Education Program has helped keep kids in school, improve their attendance, credit accumulation and grades. 80% of the students who started in the first Pathways program in 2001 will have graduated from high school by 2006 and the drop out rate in Regent Park continues to decline with each passing year and new cohort of students.
