Investment going into after school

A fraction of over $13 million going towards afterschool programs in Windsor could help out struggling families and their children.

The Ontario Government announced Tuesday it will be investing $13.5 million into afterschool programs in Ontario, which could include those in Windsor. From the Sandwich Teen Action Group centre on King St. to Drouillard Place, children andstudents would benefit greatly. At STAG, Windsor students have a variety of recreational activities to choose from.Including a basketball court, weight rooms, including leisure and recreation rooms. The executive director of STAG said the activities help teens and their families.

“It keeps them off the streets and out of trouble,” said John Elliott. “STAG is also a good support system and a lot of the kids’ parents are working, no one is home and so they’re left to their own devices.”

 

Trouble will sometimes find the kids and Elliott said STAG is keeping them busy with activities that will enrich their minds. Investing in after-school programs is important because it creates an environment in which kids and students are safe, learning, keeping fit and staying healthy.

Afterschool programs are beneficial for parents who can not spend a lot of money or have a low income. Elliott said low-income families cannot afford to put their children through travel sports. Drouillard Place said Windsor’s afterschool programs can help them.

 

“The key to ending poverty is by providing education,” said Katie Gieb, director of program services at Drouillard Place. “We want to encourage our kids to do well in school and stay in school.”

 

DP provides homework and literacy support for students. Many work there as volunteers, as the organization lacks the funds to put them on the payroll. Gieb said DP would benefit from an investment from the Ontario Government, as student education is very important to her. She said she knows some families cannot afford to put their kids into expensive programs. They are working on providing snack programs for those not-so-fortunate kids, said Gieb. However, snacks may not cut it.

 

“Our children are hungry. They come from families that access food banks,” said Gieb.
“For us to be able to offer more nutritional meals rather than just snacks would be better.”

 

Eating healthy is expensive. According to Gieb, getting funding to help children under the poverty line eat properly would be one of the best uses of the money coming from Ontario.

 

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