Rotary in Kingston project to further aid Pathways to Education graduates
With their centennial anniversary year on the horizon, Rotary in Kingston has launched a new project that will allow alumni of the Pathways to Education program to receive support while they move on to post-secondary education and employment.
Rotary in Kingston will mark its 100th anniversary in 2021. With that in mind, the local non-profit agency has created Centennial Projects, furthering their involvement with and commitment to the local community. The Rotary Facilitator Alumni Relations (FAR) Project is one such project, and will ensure that high school graduates of the Pathways to Education program in Kingston continue to be supported as they make decisions and take action related to post-secondary education, training, and finding meaningful employment. The Rotary FAR Project will provide or coordinate services for Pathways alumni.
This project will build on the success of the Pathways program, which is located in Kingston’s north end and increases high school graduation rates through tutoring, mentoring, financial support, and advocacy. Pathways to Education programs work in communities across Canada to improve outcomes for high school students in low-income areas, offering tutoring, group and career mentoring, transit and lunch vouchers, and one-on-one support to enrolled students. Half of Kingston Pathways alumni from 2006 to 2016 were the first high school graduates of their family. Most of these alumni want to continue their education at the post-secondary level, and all want their efforts to lead to meaningful employment, Rotary in Kingston explained. So far, approximately $140,000 has been raised to fund the Facilitator of Alumni Resources (FAR) position for three days a week, for the next three years.
“The Pathways Rotary FAR alumni program is a life changer in terms of breaking the cycle of poverty. For Pathways Alumni, this partnership supports the key transitional period between formal education and meaningful employment. The partnership completes the final stepping stone in our continuum of support,” said Roger Romero, Program Coordinator for Kingston Community Health Centre (KCHC), which helps administer the Pathways program.
“Our partnership is grounded in the belief that supporting the students of today will foster the Rotarians of tomorrow. We are grateful to Rotary for their continued support,” he concluded.
According to Rotary in Kingston, this project is the product of financial support and cooperation from local (Cataraqui-Kingston Rotary Club (RC), Frontenac RC, Kingston RC, Kingston Waterfront RC, Napanee RC), national (D7040 Passport RC), and international (in India: Madras RC, Madras Coromandel RC, Madras East RC, Madras Central RC, Madras Chenna Patna RC) Rotary Clubs.
But the FAR Project can also use the support of those in the local community. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.kingstonrotary.ca.