A new provincially sponsored program designed to keep inner-city children off the streets during the summer months has been wildly successful, but organizers say a one-time commitment from the government is not enough.
Focus on Youth received $4 million from Ontario's Ministry of Education this year to keep 150 schools open during the summer months for kids in troubled neighbourhoods.
The program, designed to provide positive activities and paid employment for youth, is a joint partnership between the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
Organizers are concerned that despite the huge success of the program, funding for future programs will not be available.
"This must be a year round initiative. We've been doing this over an extended period of time with limited resources," organizer Devon Jones told CTV News.
More than 160 programs are offered to children including art lessons, basketball camps, and drumming lessons.
Kids participating in the programs are thankful for the activities.
"It keeps you off the street, the program here, and there are a lot of activities," Rawshawn Chambers told CTV News.
One of the largest turnouts was at Westview Centennial Secondary School in North York.
Program organizers prepared for approximately 100 children to participate, but 200 children arrived at the school.
Education Minister Kathleen Wynne says she would like to fund more programs like Focus on Youth in the coming years but gave no commitment on future grants.
Wynne said eventually she would like to provide similar programs to at-risk youth throughout the province.
With a report from CTV's Galit Solomon
