Your Support Goes a Long Way in Helping Calgary's Young People
The Doorway helps young people dealing with the struggles of street life here in Calgary and currently the need for service is greater than ever before!. As financial struggles and uncertainty around employment affect all community members, young people already dealing with the struggles of street life are hit the hardest. The Doorway provides a unique service and each day we strive to out members of Calgary's most vulnerable community members so that they can recognize their strengths, make confident choices, and take meaningful steps away from the streets.
This past summer we launched our Crowdfunding campaign and with the support from the Alberta Government's 50 % matching, we raised $4,905. Our goal was $10,000 and this fall we are embarking on Phase 2 of the Crowdfunding campaign. With your support we can reach our goal of raising $10,000. Your donation will be matched 50% and even a modest contribution will go a long way in supporting young people dealing with the struggles of street life.
During the last two years, we have been working with 141 participants - young people here in Calgary who are dealing with the day to day struggles of life on the streets. By providing a quiet and business-focused space, as well as guidance and assistance, The Doorway nurtures their resilience, critical thinking, and adaptability. We empower them to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and actively shape their future in a positive way. Issues like poverty, legal troubles, addiction and housing are only some of the challenges these brave and hard-working youth work to mitigate and overcome.
As a community-focused small non-profit, The Doorway relies on a variety of funding sources to continue our essential work with young people, ensure high quality support, and open our doors to more participants each year. Dozens of street-entrenched young people between the ages of 17 and 30 come through our doors each day and work with our dedicated staff and volunteers to take meaningful steps away from life on the streets. By working through The Doorway's proprietary MyPlan program, these young people set and achieve personal and professional goals in thirteen essential areas of life - legal, financial, housing, employment, health, education, planning, mental health, identification, personal, problem solving, drugs and alcohol, and leadership.
Our Mission - Making change possible by empowering young people to take steps towards a better quality of life.
Our Vision - An equitable world where young people have the tools to thrive
How is The Doorway Making a Difference Everyday
"Over the past few years I have faced significant struggles that have shaped who I am today," said Brandan, program participant "One of the most important lessons I have learned is that struggle is not something to fear, it is an essential part of life that allows us to grow and fulfill our potential. Life's ups and downs are natural, and it is important to remember that struggle does not discriminate. At some point, everyone on earth will face challenges of their own. During periods of struggle, it becomes more important to focus on what you can control and let go of what you cannot. By doing so you save more energy for the things that truly matter."
"I enjoy interacting with the kids face to face, their challenges are my challenges," said Doorway volunteer, Richard Cordner, "My philosophy is not to push them in any one specific direction but to act as a guide for them to achieve their goals and aspirations in their chosen direction. Our participants have such a daunting task ahead of them and we all need help along the road, as well as a hot lunch and encouraging smile. We use small amounts of money to encourage participation in the programs and to provide a little stability for our participants."
