PACT’s One Village Care Initiative seeks to promote programs within South Etobicoke that fosters community participation and action. By promoting community involvement and participation we can begin to understand the fundamental social issues that prohibits our growth as a community.

PACT’s One Village programming is designed for all members of our community to participate in.

Programs

The Village Runway

PACTFashion is a real world sewing and design school for at-risk youth and youth in conflict with the law across the GTA. PACTFashion’s inaugural program is called the Prom Dress Project.

PACTFashion’s Prom Dress Project is sponsored by

Fabricland

and brought to life in partnership with

THE MAKE DEN

, A VINTAGE INSPIRED SEWING STUDIO at 1207 BLOOR ST. W

Throughout the seven-week project, students will gain practical design, sewing and alteration skills, while working towards the ultimate goal of completing a finished prom dress, which will then be presented to three pre-selected high school students from across Toronto who entered and won the essay contest “ why I deserve to win the prom dress” - a real dream come true!

This introductory project provides a wonderful opportunity for youth to learn about the fashion/design industry and give back to their peers in a direct and meaningful way, as their creations will be worn and loved by deserving students on a very special night of their lives.

The program provides a safe and non-judgemental environment where youth can fulfill Community Service Orders, ignite a passion, acquire valuable and tangible skills, while also gaining a sense of belonging and self esteem by working in a team based environment and seeing a project through to completion.

Build A Village:

PACT’s Build A Village has been developed to provide youth a level of self-fulfillment while teaching the essential technical skills required for general wood working & construction.

Build A Village is intended to engage youth in the development and understanding in the areas of engineering, design and construction. Through the use of applied mathematics and hands on experience with a variety of carpentry tools, youth learn the valuable lessons of problem-solving and independent thinking.

Build A Village will provide youth from South Etobicoke with the space and tools required to design and construct these initiatives. Through the generosity of community leaders, PACT’s One Village has established a 2,500 square foot woodworking shop in South Etobicoke.

Our goal is to build and maintain infrastructure projects that complement existing village programs for the people who need it the most, as an unconditional act of kindness.

Current Build Projects:

       •      Design and construction of Urban Barns for our Farm in the City Program.
       •      Bird Feeding Stations & Shelters for our Eco-Village reforestation Program.
       •     Design and construction of off-the-grid greenhouses for our winter seedling Program.

FARM IN THE VILLAGE:

Spring 2010: Farm in the Village to grow produce for local food-banks.

Community Building:

Farm-in-the-Village is PACTs newest urban agriculture initiative taking place in Etobicoke-Lakeshore starting spring 2010.

It includes a 14,000 square foot community based vegetable garden that will provide as much as 10,000 pounds of fresh produce for needy families in our community.

To make this happen, PACT is transforming a large unused urban space (donated by the local business community) into a living classroom experience where youth, local residents, mentors, parents, and community leaders will come together and grow organic produce to donate to food banks across our community,

By giving the gift of food security, community members will bring awareness to a key social issue in our community and create an enduring bond of peace.

Youth Engagement:

The PACT team passionately believes that creating a working farm in our community will provide positive outcomes for at-risk youth and youth in conflict with the law within our community.

PACTs Farm-in-the-Village initiative teaches at-risk youth about working through adversity, celebrating the harvest and sharing the abundance of nature with the community. At-risk youth will also develop a sense of self-knowledge and self-esteem, as well as an appreciation for nature and the environment.

Project and development skills include teamwork, communication skills, focus, leadership and patience. Farm in the village aims to teach the hands-on experience of farming to create a life-changing experience for the youth in our community.

Sharing the Harvest

Farm-in-the-village welcomes all community groups the opportunity to participate and help grow vegetables to donate to our local food banks.

Community groups can reserve gardening beds by contacting PACTs Farm-in-the-Village program leader Justin Di Ciano.

Although the majority of vegetables will be donated to our local food banks, volunteers will also be able to share in the harvest.

PACT – The Commitment to Positive Change

Location: 3879 Bloor Street W. (Corner of Bloor St W. & Acorn Ave, west of Kipling Ave.)

Volunteering: All members and families of the Etobicoke-Lakeshore community are welcome to participate in growing. Volunteering opportunities vary from 1hr a month to several hours a week. Please call to discuss your availability, every effort will be made to accommodate our volunteers.

Program Lead Co-ordinator: Justin Di Ciano

Contact Information:
Justin Di Ciano
PACT Urban Peace Program
Etobicoke-Lakeshore One Village Care Initiative

13 Ruby Lang Lane
Etobicoke, Ontario M8Z 0B8
Tel. 416 251 3025
Email: info@onevillagecare.com

TDSB Information:

PACTs Farm-in-the-Village is looking for students from surrounding schools to come out and work with us along with additional community members in planting this garden starting in May 2010 and throughout the summer.

·         Lakeshore CI

·         Etobicoke CI

·         Etobicoke School of the Arts

·         Bloorlea Middle School

·         Burnhamthorpe CI & ALC

·         Silverthorn Collegiate

Student from all schools are welcome. Students are eligible for community service hours.

Times: After School Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3:00 pm to 6:pm and Weekends from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Start Date: May 3 2010.

Planting Starts Week of MAY 24^th to May 29^th.

DONT MISS THE GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION OF OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN ON SATURDAY MAY 29, 2010 STARTING AT 10:00 am.

PACT Contact for TDSB

Ben Marshall
The PACT Urban Peace Program
Director of Program Development
Work 416 656 8824
Cell 416 727 2971
Fax 416 916 2910
Email ben@pactprogram.ca
Web www.pactprogram.ca