It goes without saying that kids generally look up to older kids, and a Quebec program that targets under-performing high schools – with support from the Foundation of Greater Montreal – clearly illustrates that.
Youth Fusion is an award-winning charity that establishes innovative partnerships between high schools and universities, in an effort to counter high-school drop-out rates.
A Youth Fusion participant struts his stuff during the talent show at Saint-Henri High School. Photo by Tristan Brand
It’s an issue of concern to the Foundation, which revealed in its Vital Signs 2010 report that Montreal has a 32-per-cent drop out rate among students, and that a significant number of adolescents over 15 years of age did not complete high school (21%).
“Youth Fusion has proven results – the students enrolled graduate in far greater numbers. It began in one school and has spread to dozens of others across the province,” says Marina Boulos-Winton, the Foundation’s President & CEO.
In 2010, FGM used a donor-advised fund to help refurbish musical equipment in two participating Youth Fusion schools, and the following year supported French, science and math programs for three participating schools.
Youth Fusion pays university students an hourly wage to work with high-risk kids after school on student-directed projects in fields ranging from music and environment to entrepreneurship and robotics.
Rogers Communications recently asked for the Foundation’s recommendations on directing donations to address the province’s high-school drop-out rates, after the issue made media headlines. The company ended up giving $600,000, over three years, to two suggested organizations, Youth Fusion and Allo Prof, which provides phone and online homework help to students and parents across Quebec.
