As part of our YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, we will be sharing Y stories throughout the month that show the positive impact that the YMCA and Strong Kids have on children and families in our community.

Here's Carla's Story...

Carla’s guidance counsellor looked into the Saint John Y’s sponsorship program after deciding that Carla needed to participate in a summer program that promoted positive personal growth in a supportive environment. Carla was having difficulty getting along with the other children in her class, and her guidance counsellor believed that it was stemming from a disruptive group that Carla was spending time with in her neighborhood.

The counsellor felt that it was absolutely necessary to start promoting some positive values for this child who was only 8 years old, but was already fully aware of the adult world around her. After contacting the Y, the counsellor helped Carla’s mother complete the sponsor forms and send them in.

Carla attended a two week program that summer, and although she had her guard up and didn’t take part in most of the action the first few day’s, after the third day she became used to the camp routine and began participating in the many games and activities of the camp. With the encouragement of her counsellors she began to interact with the other girls in her cabin and began getting more involved.

Carla was able to experience spending time with her peers, without the threat of being bullied or pressured into doing things she knew were wrong. She began to enjoy the company of her new friends, and appreciated the comfort of being in a supportive and friendly environment. Once in school again, Carla’s guidance counsellor began to see a change in Carla’s behavior. Encouraged, Carla’s guidance counsellor made it an annual event to bring the sponsorship forms over to Carla’s apartment and help her mother with the forms. To the counsellor’s delight, Carla began to improve her behaviour each year. It is the annual donations to the Strong Kids Campaign that help provide opportunities to children like Carla.

Your gift to Strong Kids will help children be children – a legacy that will last a lifetime. Click here to find out more or to donate.