June • 2022
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Toronto Lawyer Leads Effort to Bring the Joy of Reading to Tanzanian Children Literacy is a gateway that can open the door to a world of opportunities or just as quickly shut it tight. Every day, the proverbial door can be heard slamming shut for many millions of children in low- and middle-income countries worldwide. A startling 53 percent of children in the global south cannot read proficiently by age ten—a fact characterized by many as a “global learning crisis” (World Bank, 2019). As avid readers ourselves, we can all appreciate that foundational literacy is a prerequisite for achievement across the curriculum and the development of higher-order cognitive skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving. There is simply no leapfrogging over foundational literacy in our efforts to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4), which includes a target of 12 years of quality schooling for all children. If students don’t gain basic literacy skills, they drop out
or, at best, finish their primary school education as illiterates. Equipping children with foundational literacy skills gives them the needed leg up to succeed and stay in school and to look forward to healthy, productive lives for themselves and their families. This is precisely what Toronto-based lawyer Christopher Bredt has passionately championed for 34 years since first becoming involved with the Canadian charity CODE. Having raised over two million dollars for the cause and having cast his net of inspiration widely, Chris is a shining example of the good that can be achieved through committed volunteer service. This July, Chris will lead his fifth and final “Summit for Literacy” to the top of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, towering 19,354 feet above sea level. His team of 14 climbers is on a mission to kick-start CODE’s new children’s literacy program in Tanzania through their personal fundraising efforts. In Tanzania, a dearth of reading
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materials and qualified teachers contributes to an exceedingly high illiteracy rate amongst children. This is not a result of COVID-19, though the pandemic has certainly exacerbated the situation. It’s defined by the fact that children are not learning foundational skills. In fact, as many as 90 percent of Tanzanian children are unable to read and understand a simple text by age ten (World Bank, 2021).
CODE’s literacy programs have consistently shown that relatively modest investments in the production of culturally relevant reading materials and teacher development can have an outsized impact on children’s literacy and learning outcomes. In its most recent Tanzanian program, CODE found that children in project schools, on average, understood twice as much of what they read and
were almost three times more fluent than their counterparts in comparison schools. With the support of Chris and his intrepid group of climbers, CODE is working to reestablish and scale its impact in Tanzania. Working with stakeholders across the education and publishing sectors, CODE seeks to contribute to marketbased solutions for strengthening Tanzania’s book chain and building teachers’ capacity to engage classrooms of young readers and learners effectively. Funds raised through the “Summit for Literacy” will form a cornerstone of this ambitious new program and remind us that Margaret Mead’s words still ring true—we should “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world.” To donate to the “Summit for Literacy,” visit www.code.ngo/ kilimanjaroteam or learn more about CODE at www.code.ngo
P.K. Subban Gives Back to Montréal the biggest camp experience yet. Happening in Toronto from July It’s comeback season for 25-28 and in Montréal from P.K. Subban. August 2-3, campers ages 6-15 will The star athlete is known learn to play “the P.K. way.” for his commitment to giving The SDL gives young players back, and even after two years the advantage of top-quality of adapting to pandemic life, he coaching and programming, shows no signs of slowing down. equipping them with the tools The Subban Defence League necessary to Change the Game (SDL), Subban’s specialized hockey and turn heads in every arena they enter. Subban and his elite camp designed to develop young players into difference makers team of coaches will work with campers on the skills that create a and leaders, will be returning to in-person learning with this champion athlete. On and off the year’s “The Comeback Season,” ice, students will leave camp with RAYE MOCIOIU
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lessons that will carry through to every facet of life. Each day will feature dryland training and the on-ice skills and drills that Subban still uses to this day. All proceeds from the Subban Defence League are directly donated to the Montréal Children’s Hospital, a long-time partner and recipient of the P.K.’s Helping Hand program. Last August, the former Montréal Canadien visited The Children’s Hospital to lend a helping hand to the “Tannants au volant car rally,” which raised $300,000 in one day for the hospital. Program donations are used to provide financial support to over 600 families a year, equip the Neonatal Care Unit family lounges with healthy food options so parents can stay close to their babies while taking care of themselves, donate free books (in 28 different languages) for disadvantaged families with sick children ages 0-5, and so much more. Most recently, the Montréal Children’s Hospital announced the opening of the Specialized
Centre for Adolescent Mental Health (Le SPOT Montréal), one of the largest ambulatory centres in Canada for teens in suicidal crisis. Located within walking distance of The Montréal Children’s Hospital, Le SPOT offers an alternative to hospitalization, allowing teenagers to continue with school and other regular activities. “The outpouring of donor support for this project has been incredible. In a mere six months, the Montréal Children’s Hospital Foundation raised $12 million for Le SPOT Montréal,” explains Renée Vézina, president of the Montréal Children’s Hospital Foundation. “This exceptional support ensures teens in suicidal crisis will get help quickly from the hospital’s specialized team. Our donors are saving young lives.” On March 18, Subban announced that the P.K. Subban Foundation donated $1 million to the creation of the new teen mental health clinic, with Subban taking to Twitter to share: “The adolescents of today are the adults of the future, and we want
to ensure we can support them in every way possible!” Le SPOT Montréal is one of the major projects funded by The Montréal Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Unexpected Ways to Heal campaign, which aims to raise $200 million for the hospital by 2026. It is the most ambitious fundraising objective for a pediatric hospital in Québec’s history. With ambition in mind, Subban also acted as a spokesperson for the Montréal Children’s Hospital’s campaign to aid Ukrainian cancer patients who had crucial treatment interrupted by war. In support of these young patients forced from their homes into terrifying situations, Subban promised to match every donation, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000—a goal reached and surpassed within a week. Subban’s influence on the hospital is unparalleled, with projects funded by P.K.’s Helping Hand Fund reaching over 9,000 families each year. The P.K. Subban Foundation continues to make strides in changing the lives of youth, one child at a time. ADVERTORIAL
Win-Win: Creating New Careers With Horses You’ll see a lot of sunrises in this line of work, both literally and figuratively speaking. The individuals you care for can be demanding and giving all at the same time. They’ll test you in ways that only a 900-pound toddler can. If patience is a muscle, you may feel Herculean at the end of some days—equal workouts for your heart, too. Working with horses can be a challenging and rewarding career. In 2020, there were 17,500 pet groomers and animal care workers employed in Ontario. The horse racing and breeding sectors alone contribute $2.3 billion annually to Ontario’s economy but continue to face a shortage of workers. Grooms and caretakers are fundamental to the health, welfare, and safety of the horses and therefore are critical to the success of this important agricultural industry. The Ontario Equine Education and Employment Program (OEEEP) is working to fill this gap. This free program offers the chance for anyone with a passion
for animals and hands-on learning to become a part of Ontario’s billion-dollar horse industry. The OEEEP provides free instruction through an eight-week virtual interactive training course where participants will learn from industry experts. Participants will discover a range of career paths within the equine industry, including administrative and creative roles (marketing, promotion, public relations,
© COURTESY OF THE ONTARIO HARNESS HORSE ASSOCIATION
content creation, etc.). Each participant will receive a local job placement at the end of the program. No previous experience with horse handling is required to enroll in the program. For employers, the program provides trained staff for entry-level positions, wage subsidies, and up to $1,000 per hire. This program is made possible with the support of the Ontario Progressive Conservative
Government, which supports agricultural and equine industries and recognizes the vast value of this sector and its many (primarily rural) jobs. The support of Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton has been critical in its creation and evolution. “Our horse industry is something everyone in our province should take pride in, but many farms, racetracks
and training centres are having difficulty finding workers with the skills they need,” said Minister McNaughton. “This investment will ensure these growing businesses can find the talent they need while connecting local people with training for careers they can take pride in.” The network of partnerships includes the VPI Inc. (Employment Services), the University of Guelph (Equine Guelph) and the Ontario Harness Horse Association. The OEEEP is an excellent representation of what can be achieved when government, educational institutions and trade organizations work together to address challenges with creative solutions. For the OEEEP students and employers, the program facilitates a win-win scenario that provides trained employees for roles that are waiting to be filled (and fulfilled). Interested participants can sign up at www.vpi-inc.com/equine Potential employers should contact ashley@ohha.ca
