YIPI summer program provides youths with lifelong skills

YIPI summer program provides youths with lifelong skills

A total of 153 young people from across the city completed the eight-week Youth In Policing Initiative (YIPI) summer employment program.

“Your successful completion of this program demonstrates your commitment to reaching your goals,” Acting Staff Superintendent Jacqueline Baus said at the graduation on August 23 at the Toronto Police College. 
“Throughout this experience, you’ve demonstrated your dedication to this unique learning opportunity where you have developed strong connections and become part of an incredible team.  Through your hard work and contribution to the important work that we do, you have allowed our members to learn from you as well.”

She said Toronto Police Service want to support young people and help build strong leaders in neighbourhoods across the city.

“As you leave this program, I hope you have gained more than just work experience, but also more confidence in yourselves and what you’re capable of,” added Baus.  “You have worked hard during your time with us – whether it was researching and presenting on our fifteen Divisions or learning more about the various communities in our city. We, as a Service, have benefited from your insights and contributions.”

The Toronto Police Service Board supports the summer program through its Special Fund.

Executive Director Dr. Dubi Kanengisser said the opportunity to learn and grow is mutual.

“Not only did you gain exposure to the world of policing, but we, Service members and Board Staff too, had the opportunity to learn from youth from a rich variety of backgrounds, to understand your lives, to hear about your hopes and dreams and to learn from your ideals and insights,” he noted. “I am confident this has been a valuable learning opportunity for you and I hope each one of you will look back at this experience and see the positive impact it has made on you in the years to come.

“Remember the lessons that you have learned here, both the special skills and abilities that you have been taught as well as the key principles and values like teamwork, integrity, community focus and respect that are a part of all that we do. We are proud of you, our future community leaders and will be excitedly watching where your passions and ambitions take you in the years to come.”

Ontario’s Solicitor General Michael Kerzner told the graduates the program provided them with lifelong experiences.

“The experiences that you have had, the friendships that you have made and the open eyes that you now have to look at our public safety differently are because you were part of this program,” he said. “You have experienced things that are incredible. Now, you will be the ambassadors to bring forward what you have learned to the entire community.”

The valedictorians were Usman Aamir, Bashir Mahamed, Sana Mashal and Muskan Mann.

Reflecting on the experience, Aamir said the program has been incredibly transforming.

“It has helped me see the future more clearly, giving me lifelong experiences and vital skills and a glimpse into the unexplored,” the Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute Grade 12 student noted. “More significantly, it has taught me the worth of a strong sense of community along with the significance of giving back and forming strong bonds.”

For Mahamed who is going into Grade 11 at Runnymede Collegiate Institute, the program has been life-changing.

“This journey impacted not just the summer months, but also my future,” he pointed out. “I have gained so much lifelong skills. I want to urge my fellow graduates to take the lifelong skills they learned, grow with them and put them to good use.”

Mashal, who was at 33 Division, was not sure what to expect when she joined the program in early July.

“I knew I wanted to become a police officer and I saw this program as the perfect opportunity and a great start,” the George Henry Academy graduate said. “I was eager to learn, but I didn’t realize just how much this experience would shape me and change my perspectives over eight weeks. We all dreamed of riding in a police car because it seemed cool and I felt that way at first. But over time, being in a police car was not 
just cool. It was about taking responsibility.”

Mann, a Grade 11 student at Woodbridge Collegiate Institute, was excited to work with Toronto Police, connect with youths in her age group and network with professionals.

“The work we have done over the past two months has been a huge stepping stone towards our future goals,” said the teenager. “We have gained many work skills and a new found sense of belonging.”

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services partner with TPS on the program.

Laura Smith, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minster of Children, Community & Social Services, thanked the graduates for choosing to spend their summer with Toronto Police. 

“I am incredibly proud to be here,” said the Thornhill Member of Provincial Parliament. “I know you are here and ready to serve and protect. But this is just the beginning of your journey and the possibilities are absolutely boundless.”

In 2008, the program was permanently incorporated into the Ontario government’s list of youth programs. A year later, the Ministry of Children & Youth Services expanded its funding to the program to accommodate a 50% increase in hires.

Established with the assistance of former provincial government Minister Mary Anne Chambers who attended the graduation, the summer program caters to youths between the ages of 15 and 18 who come from City of 
Toronto-designated Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and often struggle to find summer employment.

This year’s participants from 31 Toronto neighbourhoods were exposed to a diverse range of roles and responsibilities.

In addition to working across all areas of the Service, students visited the Ripley Aquarium and new Court House, watched a live online Bail Court session and met other YIPI participants from across the Greater Toronto Area at the YIPIs Ripple Effect Forum where they shared stories and learned from each other’s experiences about fostering a culture of collaboration and community resilience.

Some students also volunteered at Tropicana Community Services Food Bank, the Daily Bread Food Bank and the Indy Race.

A total of 94 of the graduates completed their First Aid Training.

Several awards were presented at the graduation.

Mario Anderson, Ilham Ali, Jaden Harrow and Marian Torres were recognized for Community Service; Bibi Sarah Rahimyar and Sana Mashal were honoured for Creativity; Khadija Malek and Ilham Ali won the Hidden Gem Award; Kayvon Lowe, Aleashanee Ashmeade and Ibrahim Adnan were the Initiative Award winners; Ayshi Das, Nahyan Hossain and Talha Syed were presented with Knowledge Awards and Mishaila Onuweugbuzie, Chaerin Lee and Kaelin Davidson.

Gaile Sarmiento was award the Most Improved Prize, Christian Runch Castro, Jemima Makolo and Muya Keane were the Rising Star winners; Bashir Mahamed and Parishi Mehta won the Team Player Award; Alaniya Maillet and Kyle Kennedy were honoured for Perseverance and Daphney Di-Mavindi won the Most Valuable Performer Award.

R.H King Academy student Mya Keane – who was assigned to the Board office – sang the national anthem and Chaerin Lee, who recently graduated from AY Jackson Secondary School and is enrolled in the University of Toronto’s Criminology & Psychology program, did a musical presentation on the violin.