“Lighting the Path for Our Youth”
Up-Coming Programs/Projects
EL Shama Cares Foundation is launching a range of innovative initiatives designed to empower youth, support newcomers, and strengthen communities across Edmonton and beyond.
For youth, these programs will provide mentorship, leadership opportunities, life skills coaching, and safe spaces to grow, learn, and thrive.
For investors and partners, this is a chance to strategically collaborate with a trusted organization creating measurable impact and sustainable social change.
For all visitors, our vision is clear: to transform lives, nurture potential, and build brighter, more resilient communities.
Stay tuned for updates, upcoming events, and ways to get involved, and consider donating or partnering with us today to be part of this transformative journey!
Pain to Passion
Just Because
Some of us are strong every day, so strong that we often forget to care for ourselves. We hold it all together, bury our grief, and push through setbacks without pause. Pain to Passion is a space just for the strong ones, Black leaders and their allies, who carry the weight of responsibility, but need a moment to breathe, heal, and reconnect.
This is your monthly investment in yourself: a safe, supportive, and empowering space to process, rejuvenate, and rediscover your energy and purpose. Through honest conversation, shared experiences, and community connection, we honor your strength and create space for healing, reflection, and empowerment.
You don’t have to do it alone. This program is about lifting each other up, celebrating resilience, and transforming your pain into passion.
Join us. Reconnect. Rejuvenate. Empower yourself.
📩 Express your interest today: info@elshamacares.org
More details coming soon, this is your moment, just because.
Youth-Led Environmental & Empowerment Initiatives!
Something BIG is happening for students and young leaders in our city
We’re thrilled to announce a series of exciting youth-led programs designed to:
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Empower young environmental champions – engaging students in hands-on projects to protect, restore, and enhance their communities.
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Develop leadership skills – giving youth the tools, confidence, and opportunities to lead initiatives in their schools and neighborhoods.
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Foster creativity & innovation – inspiring students to design impactful projects and solutions for real-world challenges.
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Connect youth to meaningful action – helping them see how small actions can lead to measurable change in their communities.
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Support mental, social, and emotional growth – building resilience, collaboration, and a sense of purpose.
These programs are carefully designed to equip young leaders with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a lasting impact in their schools and communities, while having fun, learning, and connecting with peers who share their passion.
Get ready! Whether you’re a student eager to take action, a school looking to empower your youth, or a community member inspired by change, there’s something here for you.
Stay tuned for launch details, how to get involved, and ways to support these transformative youth initiatives.
Together, we’re growing the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
“Beyond the Cycle” - Crime prevention Program
“Breaking cycles, empowering youth, building thriving futures.”
“Beyond the Cycle”, our gangs to tuition program, prevents near-term violence by removing youth from unsafe situations, stabilizing them with supportive housing, and building long-term protective factors through therapy, family engagement, and life skills.
Target Audience:
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Youth aged 12–24 experiencing or at risk of violence.
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Priority groups: Indigenous, Black, and racialized youth; newcomers with language barriers; 2SLGBTQIA+ youth; those experiencing poverty, housing instability, neurodiversity, or disability.
Program Activities:
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Transitional Housing: 15-bed program, 3–6 months per stay.
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Trauma-informed interventions: CBT-based therapy groups, crisis counselling, rapid access to mental health supports.
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Youth empowerment: life skills training, mentorship, workforce readiness.
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Family & community strengthening: parenting workshops, restorative circles, community CPTED projects.
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Cultural supports: Indigenous-led healing circles, newcomer peer hubs
EDMONTON UNITED
Youth United Against Hate
Through education, dialogue, and creative collaboration, our project equips young people aged 12–24 to become influential anti-hate leaders in their schools and communities. Over a 15 month period, we will engage seven strategically selected schools, three junior highs, three high schools, and one post-secondary institution, offering students hands-on experiences in leadership, civic engagement, and digital activism.
Our multi-faceted approach includes:
1. Youth Anti-Hate Leadership Workshops
Interactive sessions delivered by expert facilitators and consultants focus on bias awareness, intercultural understanding, and empathy-building. Within their school hubs, youth ambassadors recruit peers and lead an inter-school digital campaign, translating their learning into real-world action. This initiative empowers students to wield social media as a force for good, amplifying their voices while building confidence and leadership skills.
2. Youth Hate Debate Series
A signature debate competition transforms discussion into education. Participants explore complex questions like “Does forgiveness dismantle hate?” or “Can schools lead reconciliation?”, cultivating critical thinking, respect, and civic engagement. With the guidance of youth workers and trained ambassadors, debates are showcased publicly, indirectly educating thousands while inspiring allyship across the wider community.
3. Co-Designed Anti-Hate Toolkit & Digital Campaign
Youth collaboratively design practical strategies and digital content to counter hate and promote unity. This toolkit will be shared with school boards and hosted online, providing a resource for students and educators alike. In addition, youth will produce a peer-focused brochure for school welcome packages, marking the pilot phase of a growing initiative aimed at long-term impact.
4. Community Showcase & Policy Roundtable
The project culminates in a public celebration of youth achievement. Debates, creative work, and the Toolkit are presented to peers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders. A policy roundtable follows, fostering dialogue and actionable strategies to sustain the project’s impact beyond its initial run.
Join Us in Shaping Change
We are seeking visionary partners and investors to help us scale this initiative, expand our reach, and equip more youth to become the leaders their communities need. By investing in this project, you are investing in a generation committed to empathy, equity, and positive social change.
Together, we can transform education into action, and action into lasting impact.
