Change starts here.
Change starts here.
Five year old Tutu’s hadn’t spoken a sound since witnessing the murder of his father in the Congo.
Thanks to the help of a United Way supported program, Tutu is now talking and playing well with others. It was a very proud moment when he set off for his first day of school, ready to learn, in September 2009.
Through Success by 6, United Way of the Lower Mainland is working to ensure our youngest children are ready to succeed in school by the time they reach kindergarten. Read Tutu’s full story.
Success By 6 is an early childhood development initiative dedicated to providing children with a good start in life.
29% of children entering kindergarten are considered developmentally vulnerable. In other words, almost 30% of our children are not ready for the learning school provides.
BC has the highest child poverty rate in Canada for the eighth year in a row.
What does this mean?
There are far too many children behind where they should be: socially, emotionally, and/or physically.
Why are so many children vulnerable? There are many reasons - it is no secret that it takes a community to raise a child, so what is going wrong? Simply put, there is not enough support in place for families with young children, to help kids develop the skills they need to succeed. A part of the problem is that BC has the highest child poverty rate in Canada. Growing up in poverty can mean a child lacks even the most basic needs, such as proper nutrition and shelter.
When we invest in our young children, we all win. Research shows that childhood early learning prevents youth aggression and violence, school drop-out and reduces the burden on our health care system.
United Way’s goal: To increase the number of school-ready children in the Lower Mainland.
United Way of the Lower Mainland is working with partners, including government, to ensure young children develop to their full potential. For example, by supporting parenting programs, food security programs, early childhood development hubs, organizations that advocate on behalf of children’s rights and by conducting research and evaluation that enables us to better understand children’s needs, United Way is helping kids succeed.
Our work is guided by our community impact model. It is the four strategies of engaging communities, strengthening non-profits, focusing on root causes, and influencing the decision-making environment that allows us to reach our goal for Success by 6.
We are committed to tracking and evaluating how your dollar makes a difference in the lives of people and our communities. Demonstrating the impact of your gift also enables United Way to continue to make wise and prudent investment choices to ensure the greatest return for our community and your generous investment.
Read more about how United Way is achieving Success By 6.
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