Why We Do It
What's New
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2007 Camp Carnival participants for making the We Makin' Mas program a success! Stay tuned for information on the 2008 program!
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Check out the PHOTO GALLERY for recently posted pictures!
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Read about Camp Carnival IN THE NEWS!
Quick Facts
Since 1981, Toronto saw a 400% increase in the number of ‘higher poverty’ neighbourhoods.(5)
Households with an annual income of less than $20,000 are almost twice as prevalent in Toronto than the rest of the GTA.(6)
More than 35% of children (18 yrs and under) live in households under the Low Income Cut Off (LICO) poverty indicator.(7)
From 1991 to 2001, the number of children being raised in higher poverty neighbourhoods in Toronto climbed by 100%.(8)
Higher poverty neighbourhoods have a higher proportion of children than in the entire city overall.(9)
"When young people are given the right opportunities, they will always rise to the occasion and make the right choices."
- Dalton McGuinty, Ontario Premier (17)
Poverty In Toronto
Poverty in Toronto is on the rise. Unfortunately it places many of our youth at risk of healthy emotional, social and intellectual development.
Youth living in poor neighbourhoods exhibit some common characteristics affecting learning:
- craving attention and a sense of belonging,
- lacking aspirations and a sense of worth,
- avoiding setting goals and defining expectations, and
- have little motivation to learn or participate in activities outside the survival dictates of their environment.
Free community services are in strong demand to compensate for the negative effects of the poverty environment. However, these services are becoming increasingly scarce in the inner suburbs.
Camp Carnival aims to demonstrate the role community can play in filling this void and positively influencing youth development. Emphasis is placed on sparking the desire to learn. We aim to restore our youth’s self-image while allowing them to see the rewards of becoming actively involved in their community.