Our youth support services have increased dramatically since 2002.

Midaynta in partnership with the Children's Aid Society of Toronto and Somali Youth Association of Toronto (SOYAT), under the umbrella of the Somali Youth Coalition, have started providing services to the Somali youth population in Toronto.

Our youth programs target mainly the youth in the Regent Park and Rexdale area and aim at working with the Somali community, Somali parents and Canadian systems such as Education, Parks & Recreation, Child Welfare, Criminal Justice, providing educational and preventive services to the Somali youth and their parents in these neighbourhoods.

The Somali Youth Support programs work with the Somali community as well as mainstream institutions to reduce the risk factors causing number of Somali youth to drop out of school, join gangs and get into trouble with the law.

It is the goal of these programs to adopt an early prevention approach by promoting staying in school, getting involved in community recreation and sporting events and developing youth leaders who can act as role models for other Somali youth.

The Coalition introduced an annual event, "the Annual Somali Youth Recognition Awards". The first one was held on February 13, 2004 in which 14 youth were recognized and awarded for their excellence in different fields of achievements.

Financial support for the youth programs is provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Parks and Recreation Division of the City of Toronto under the Minor Recreations Grants Program.