Youth Drop-In Program

The Cause

The Youth Restorative Actions Project’s (YRAP’s) Drop In Program provides young people facing various complexities and who are often navigating the criminal justice system a weekly opportunity to engage in prosocial activities and help form positive communities. Youth are given the opportunity to engage in community activities that they may not otherwise have the chance to participate in. The program takes place weekly and involves young people participating in art projects, expressing themselves in unique ways and building confidence while learning various artistic skills. Our drop-in programs take place at our office or at an event youth have expressed interest in attending. One of the main gaps our youth face in accessing our drop-in program is transportation. This grant will go toward supporting the resources used in our drop-in program such as event tickets, art projects, cooking supplies and bus tickets for our youth to commute to the space.

Who Will it Benefit?

The Youth Restorative Action Project (YRAP) is a Youth Justice Committee founded and run by Edmonton youth. YRAP is mandated to work with young people who have caused harm while being affected by a variety of significant social issues such as intolerance, racism, substance abuse, homelessness, family violence and prostitution. YRAP offers those who have caused harm an opportunity to take responsibility for their actions and to grow positively and offers victims a meaningful role in the process.

The young people who directly benefit from the drop-in program and bus tickets are typically experiencing significant social challenges such as homelessness and substance dependency. These youth are typically between the ages of 12 and 24. With this funding the weekly drop ins and bus tickets would approximately support 250 youth over the course of a year. These youth benefit in terms of having increased access to their supports and gaining a sense of support and community.

Our drop-in program facilitates a safe space for youth to meet other folks who can understand each other's lived experiences. It allows our youth to further build their relationships with their mentors and further create a system of support. Even more broadly, by offering increased support to young people facing various challenges, these young people will have improved opportunities to live fulfilling lives and engage more fully in their communities.