Midaynta is considered one of the largest continental African Canadian agencies in Toronto, serving the largest community from the continent of Africa.

Beginnings

At the peak of Somali influx into Canada in 1993, a working group comprised of stakeholders from the Somali service organizations, official representatives from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, individuals from the legal profession, and Somali community leaders convened to establish a project that provided family reunification services to the refugees from war-torn Somalia.

This collaborative and ground breaking project was named "Midaynta Qoyska", which when translated from the Somali language means family reunification. In August 1995, the project was incorporated and renamed "Midaynta Association of Somali Service Agencies" with the mission and mandate of improving the quality of life of the Somali Canadian community in Toronto through settlement and integration services.

In May/June 2003, Midaynta’s Board of Directors, with the support of the staff, agreed to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and reach of the organization through a blend of sound management, strong governance and a rededication to achieving results.

In 2004, Midaynta’s vision was broadened through the restructuring of its agencies. The organization’s name was changed to Midaynta Community Services with the mission to broaden its scope and improve the standard of living of families, women, children, youth and seniors, regardless of ethnicity, through the provision of settlement and community development services. This reorganization was supported with funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Today

The organization manages and delivers more than a dozen programs and services to newcomers and immigrants in the areas of settlement, employment, public education, housing and homelessness, child welfare protection, mental health support, family violence and crisis prevention/intervention and counselling, problem gambling services, victims services, socially isolated women support, youth leadership development and crime prevention, youth sports and recreation, seniors services and general community development. Moreover, Midaynta has developed its capacity to conduct socioeconomic research studies and continues to collaborate with others in both service delivery & research projects. It has recently opened a number of location from where it delivers outreach programs for youth as well as community development..