Empowering Newcomer Youth to Thrive in Winnipeg 

Arriving in a new country is never easy, and for many young newcomers in Winnipeg, the transition can be overwhelming. Learning a new language, adjusting to unfamiliar schools, and navigating cultural expectations can all create barriers that make it hard to feel at home. 

Development Assistance International (D.A.I.) Inc. is helping to change that. 

Through its Youth Empowerment Program, D.A.I. provides newcomer youth with the tools, mentorship, and community support they need to succeed both personally and professionally. With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada initiative, the program is expanding its reach and strengthening its ability to help newcomer youth build confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging. 

Building Skills and Confidence 

Many of the youth D.A.I. serves have arrived in Manitoba from refugee camps in Eastern and Central Africa, often with disrupted schooling and limited English or French. The Youth Empowerment Program helps bridge these gaps through after-school tutoring, mentorship, leadership training, and employability workshops, all while promoting mental wellness and community connection so youth can build confidence and a sense of belonging.  

“This grant will allow us to expand our reach and deepen our connection with newcomer youth and their families, offering opportunities for engagement, learning, and active play within our community, especially for those who might not otherwise have access to organized afterschool and summer care,” D.A.I. says. 

Breaking Down Systemic Barriers 

According to Immigration Partnership Winnipeg’s 2021-2025 Strategy Report, newcomers continue to face discrimination and barriers to employment, education, and housing. Employers often fail to recognize international experience or credentials, while youth face language gaps, limited resources, and minimal access to mentorship. 

For newcomer youth, these barriers can lead to isolation and lost potential. D.A.I.’s programming helps counter that by creating safe spaces for learning and growth, supported by staff who understand the immigrant experience firsthand, offering programming that meets youth where they are. 

Strengthening Capacity with support from the RHF 

With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada initiative, D.A.I. is building capacity to expand its programs, reach more newcomer youth, and strengthen partnerships across Winnipeg. Catapult funding not only supports program delivery but also connects D.A.I. to a national network of youth-serving organizations working together to build stronger, more sustainable systems of support. 

By investing in community-driven programs like the Youth Empowerment Program, the Rideau Hall Foundation is helping create pathways for newcomer youth to succeed, ensuring that every young person, regardless of where they start, can find belonging, purpose, and opportunity in Canada.