BY: Lenny Stoute

A few years ago, 25-year-old Chukwuma Okonkwo was doing well financially but wanted more from his life.

“I just had this feeling I wanted to do something to be of help. At that time, Obama was going through the primaries and that gave me some focus, to look at what I could do to make a difference, give back to my community. I started looking around at community active groups and settled on Youth Assisting Youth [YAY].”

Part of what made YAY attractive to Okonkwo is its volunteer focus. All of YAY’s programs are mentor-based, and the volunteer selection process is finely tuned. Volunteers must be between 16 and 29, willing to commit at least three hours a week and have clean police records. Also, as a large segment of YAY clientele is made up of recent immigrants, all volunteers must be culturally sensitive.

The one-on-one program pairs volunteers with youth in need of guidance from within their own neighbourhood. Okonkwo’s commitment to YAY was such that within a year he was named Volunteer Coordinator, a post heavy with responsibility.

“A big part of my duties involves the recruitment and vetting of prospective volunteers. We recruit heavily from the colleges and universities, and other programs and groups who are also into youth action in the community. We select only the cream of the crop.”

YAY changed Okonkwo’s life and gave him the means to change the lives of others. And there’s lots of changing to be done. At any one time, YAY has 1,300 youths in its programs and in its very success lies the seeds of its current problem.

“We’re desperately in need of male volunteers. We have many at-risk youth and not enough mentors to pair them with. So if you have or know anyone who has time and the qualities we’re looking for, especially being a positive role model, pass this on,” says Okonkwo. “And remember, it happens in your own neighbourhood, you don’t have far to go, and the demands aren’t that great. Providing experiences they wouldn’t have had otherwise, broadening their perspectives could be something as easy as taking a kid to a ball or hockey game.”

YAY enjoys an excellent relationship with external organizations, including the Toronto Police. Currently, the two organizations have partnered in a boxing program and the “Saddle Up For Success” initiative, which introduces the kids to horseback riding. These interactions have a profound positive effect on the lives of participants.

“I’d like for the people of Toronto to step up and make a change in their own neighbourhoods, in any way they can,” says Okonkwo. “Look around, see what you can do to give back to your community, get involved.”

Originally published in Sway Magazine, Spring 2009

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