The G.O.T.S. Program  (Get Off The Street) was originated in the
    spring of 2007 through the “Focus on Youth Initiative” and the Toronto
    District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.  
    The goal of the program is to provide a fun, stimulating and safe
    summer experience while creating a leadership training mentorship
    program between older and younger youth.

    Our highly acclaimed program has been housed at schools within the
    identified  prioritized communities within Toronto with high numbers of
    disenfranchised youth.  The Program runs seven to eight weeks in the
    months of July and August and usually averaged at nearly 30 kids.  
    The Youth have ranged from the ages of 9 through to 19 years of age.  

    By participating in this program many of the high school youth are able
    to earn their volunteer hours for high school, as well as learn the
    foundations of teamwork, leadership and most importantly what it
    means to be a leader and not a follower.

    The G.O.T.S. Program is based on the principle of intervention for
    youth by youth.  It’s a proven fact that gang members, drug users as
    well as those involved with the Criminal Justice system will not change
    their habits because of someone telling them that they need to.  Youth
    need to find solutions that fit their needs.  Regesh staff is responsible
    for facilitating the structure in which this happens, not teaching or
    telling the youth what they need to do.  Each youth in the G.O.T.S.
    Program has a specific desire which needs to be met and every youth
    is different.  With identified individual goal plans the youth are set up to
    succeed not to fail.

    Although a structured program is put into place it is the youth which
    lead the programs and discussions with what they believe is important
    to them.  They are given the opportunity to speak out into a group
    where they can be heard and other youth are able to give them
    feedback or let them know that they are not alone in what they may be
    going through.  The space where the program is run becomes a place
    for self discovery where the youth can learn who they are and what
    potential they truly have.   

    The goal for the GOTS program is to set youth up for success when in
    any other circumstance they may fail.  By intervening in their current
    states we are more capable of preparing them for a safer and healthier
    lifestyle where they will be able to give back to a community that has
    given so much to them.

    To view pictures about the G.O.T.S. program, click on the following link:
    GOTS
Get Off The Streets (G.O.T.S) Summer Program