About S.T.E.P.

The Safer Tomorrows through Education and Play (S.T.E.P.) Program is an after-school program which offers a safe and stimulating environment for youth grades 5-12. Through academic tutoring, leisure activities, and workshops, youth can increase their self-esteem, build upon their academic and life skills, and develop a vision of their future.

The STEP Program is offered to the community as a FREE service in an effort to remove barriers and provide the at-risk and low-income youth of Toronto with an equal opportunity for success.

The program provides one-to-one tutoring in all subjects from grade 5 through 12, with volunteers that are trained to reflect the language and cultural diversity of the students being served. Tutors are also available in the space for drop-in help or to answer occasional homework questions. With the increasing use of computers in the classroom, the computer resources and tutor IT help at STEP are crucial to ensuring that STEP students are going to school on a level playing field with other students. The STEP program provides one-on-one tutoring and computer resources such as would a homework club, however it surpasses other homework clubs by offering a more holistic approach to assisting youth.

In addition to providing youth with all the tools for academic success, the program provides workshops that focus on non-academic aspects of the lives of youth (self-esteem, problem solving skills, coping strategies, dramatic visual arts, creative writing, employment/career planning, etc.). The program also has a large recreational component that promotes pro-social skill development

Every youth is unique and has differing strengths and needs. A program such as STEP, that offers support and resources in multiple areas, rather than restricting the focus to academic tutoring, will be better equiped to fit the individual needs of youth, and consequently will keep them attending the program.

National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC)

The funding provided by the by the National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) helped to identify the needs of our youth and develop a variety of workshops for various life skills such as: conflict resolution, anger managment, social/interpersonal skills, bullying, study skills, and internet safety.

These workshops are done throughout the year at various times.