Sun Youth: more needed than ever

For 67 years, Sun Youth has been helping the poorest Montrealers, paying particular attention to young people and families in need. If the reputation of the NPO – founded by two children! – is no longer to be done, we gain to know its history, its influence and its considerable influence on the social fabric of the metropolis.

In the 1950s, Earl De La Perralle and Sid Stevens, aged 9 and 13 respectively, created The Clark Street Sun, a newspaper that chronicles their life on the banks of the Main in the Saint-Louis district (today Le Plateau -Mont Royal). Their goal: to raise funds to buy sports equipment and organize recreational activities, which are sorely lacking in their modest immigrant community. Over time, the few handwritten sheets gave birth to The Sun Youth Organization, which in 1981 took the name of Sun Youth. The NPO opens the first food bank in Montreal, its field of action gradually extends throughout the city and its activities are diversifying. Today, some 30 assistance programs are offered to people in need, ranging from emergency services to sports and recreation programs and crime prevention.

Take a new challenge Appointed to the general management of Sun Youth in 2018 following the death of Earl De La Perralle, Johanne Saltarelli is well placed to face the problems caused by inflation and the affordability of housing, which are hitting hard. the people of Montreal. It must be said that she knows the workings of the organization well, with which she has been involved and has worked for more than four decades. “At the age of 15, I was an animator at the summer camp, at 18 I started to intervene with young people in the street and, then, I took care of crime prevention in schools. “, she says. From managing the summer camp to managing the warehouses, she has held a host of positions in the organization, always driven by the same passion. If the values ​​of mutual aid, solidarity and inclusion are always the same, Sun Youth is today confronted, like all NPOs, with complex situations and needs that increase while resources decrease. “The difficulties encountered by our customers also affect us, because we also have to do more with less,” says Ms. Saltarelli.

The ravages of inflation For the Director General, rising prices top the list of problems, as it puts increased pressure on vulnerable populations. “Currently, 16% of people who use our food bank are employed, and the number of workers who cannot make ends meet continues to increase. It’s unthinkable to have to choose between paying your rent or your groceries! We absolutely want to prevent people from ending up on the street. » Sun Youth intervenes directly by helping families in Montreal to manage their budget and make up for the rise in prices, by negotiating with Hydro-Québec for the payment of bills, by providing food, school supplies and new clothes, and helping to pay for the drugs.

Sport and education to fight poverty From the beginning, access to sports and education has been in Sun Youth’s DNA. Its well-known sports programs, which focus on the well-being of young athletes by encouraging them to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, are complemented by tutoring, mentoring, homework assistance and preparation for exams, all offered by volunteers. The objective: to combine sporting success and academic success. “In 2021, 92% of graduates from our sports programs were accepted at university or in technical or professional training,” emphasizes Johanne Saltarelli. Our message is that, while not all young athletes can become Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, they can all reach their optimum level and succeed in the profession of their choice. The organization also sees sport as a great way to integrate young people into society. The hockey program offers children, boys and girls, from impoverished immigrant families the opportunity to learn to skate and to learn the game, which then allows them to integrate into their neighborhood teams. For them as for their parents, it is an open window on the culture of their host country.
“Playing a sport gives young people a sense of belonging. They know they can talk to someone. They are part of a team”, continues Johanne Saltarelli. Concrete proof of this ability to create a family spirit is that 65% of the volunteer coaches themselves wore the Sun Youth uniform during their childhood or adolescence.

The urgency to act Sun Youth intervenes during disasters or serious events – fires, floods, evictions, death of a relative – by providing clothing, food and basic necessities, and by working in collaboration with the referral assistance service for homeless families from the Municipal Housing Office. In 2021-2022, its emergency teams were present at the scene of 151 interventions by the Montreal Fire Department, and they helped 869 people.
The NPO also supports people in distress targeted by the SPVM and the Crime Victims Assistance Center. He has a long history of crime prevention by working with communities to conduct neighborhood watch and counter drug and alcohol abuse and shoplifting. Also note: since 1984, in collaboration with the SPVM and neighborhood police stations, some thirty bicycle patrollers, trained in intervention techniques and first aid, have criss-crossed bicycle paths, parks and playgrounds to promote security and prevent breaches.
As we can see, the influence of Sun Youth is considerable, especially when we consider a host of other great initiatives, including urban gardens, collective kitchens, day camps and bicycle donations. For this, of course, the contribution of donors and volunteers is essential, especially in these difficult times when the task is immense and every donation counts.

Since 1954, we have taken care of Montrealers by intervening with disadvantaged individuals and families. We provide a range of emergency services aimed at ensuring their basic needs and maintaining their integrity. We actively contribute to crime prevention and promote the physical and intellectual development of young people through education, sports and recreation. Our fundamental objective is to alleviate poverty and prevent exclusion. WE HELP.

For information or to make a donation: sunyouth.org

This content was produced by Le Devoir’s special publications team in collaboration with the advertiser. Le Devoir’s editorial team had no role in the production of this content.