Programs & Services > Community and Neighbourhood Development > Building Bridges
Building Bridges
Building capacity and community harmony
Photos taken at Building Bridges workshops
Building Bridges is a project developed in partnership with the Lawrence Heights Community Health Centre to promote peace and community harmony among Horn of Africa communities: Eritrean, Ethiopian, Sudanese and Somali. The project received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation over three years to work with people living in Scarborough and Lawrence Heights. It draws upon the strengths inherent in these neighbourhoods and supports community members to further develop their capacities to make their communities even stronger.
“The program aims to bring together
communities that have had the experience of war. It’s essential
for agencies such as FSA to continue building capacity and community
harmony for members of communities whose lives continue to be impacted
by the lingering effects of war and displacement.”
Amanuel
Melles, former manager of Community Action Unit (currently Community
and Neighbourhood Development).
Despite the fact that members from the Horn of Africa communities come from very different countries they share many similarities such as culture and language. Building Bridges encourages people to come together and celebrate their similarities and ovecome their differences.
Building Bridges focus: women and youth.
Building Bridges engages women (with a focus on women with low incomes) and youth (aged 15-24) in a variety of ways and through a range of activities. New participants are always welcome to join these groups.
Building Bridges program for women
Through a multi-week program women receive training on conflict transformation, life-skills to enhance self-esteem, health and healthy living, as well as traditional sewing and baking.
The program includes workshops on topics such as: parenting, nutrition, family violence, etc.. These workshops help to break isolation, enhance intergenerational communications to cope with cultural and family conflict, retain and enhance heritage and promote values of harmony, peace and co-operation.
For current activities please go to the Schedule of Workshops page.
Building Bridges program for youth
Young people participate in Building Bridges by engaging in learning circles and discussion groups and by learning traditional dances and music. These activities help them develop self-esteem, tolerance and respect for each other and their cultural and linguistic differences.
Activities include viewings and discussions of documentaries that address issues such as racism, environment, youth culture and media, and arts and culture workshops that engage the youth in exploring their cultural heritage and discovering common values and culture among the different communities.
Next series of workshops for youth will start in January 2007. Download flyer
Family Service Association of Toronto and Lawrence Heights Community Centre thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for supporting this program that will contribute to the development of Horn of Africa Communities in Toronto.
How To Reach Us: To find out more about our Community and Neighbourhood Development, please call 416- 586- 9777 or e-mail us at communityaction@fsatoronto.com
