Meet Karla.
Karla came to stay at YWS back in 2023. She left home due to a history of violence and wanted to make the necessary changes to break the cycle of trauma. This would be no small task, and she knew it would take a lot of hard work. Karla knew that getting her diploma would lead her to a better life, so she made the difficult choice to bravely walk through the doors of YWS into the Stay in School (SIS) Program.
In the beginning, it was hard for Karla to adjust. It was a struggle to maintain attendance as she often found it difficult to find the motivation to get up and leave for school. After many meetings with our SIS team and getting to know her fellow residents within the program, together we were able to establish some trust, and it became easier for her to open up and reach out when she needed help. It was clear that Karla wanted to live a different life than the one she knew, and we wanted to provide her with all the supports she needed in order to do so.
With help from our team, Karla was able to move past the hurt and started feeling empowered by the choices she was making. After working with our Employment and Life Skills team, Karla realized her passion for hairdressing. Through her resiliency, she secured a placement for coop. This is when Karla’s journey took a turn and staff witnessed her dedication to her craft. Karla went from being not motivated to going full speed into her placement where she excelled far beyond our expectations. Her attendance was perfect. She was joyful and engaged. There was a light in Karla that was awesome to witness.
Karla was one of our 10 graduates this past summer, and is currently working with the YWS Housing team to find a place to live all her own! We are so proud of all her accomplishments.
Congratulations, Karla!
YWS Stay in School Program
Homelessness and leaving school early go hand-in-hand and can lead to major life-long disadvantages for youth. This is why the transitional housing program within SIS is so crucial to provide the supports and programming needed to allow residents to complete their education. We work together to create a safe and stable environment with support and guidance from qualified staff. Here our youth can receive guidance from our case managers with access to one-on-one tutoring on specific subjects, access to our mentorship program, referrals to scholarships and bursaries, and so much more. Thanks to donors like you, we are also able to cover the cost of our residents transit fares, laptops, textbooks and other school supplies.
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