Announcements
May 7, 2011: Join us for the 3rd Annual Strong Hearts Silent Auction and Fundraiser. Located at Donegal Irish Pub (1637-37th Street S.W. Calgary, Alberta). Doors Open at 6:30. Tickets are $40 (includes admission, one drink, and one dinner). Select "Donate" to Purchase.
Feb 1, 2011: Buy a Heart for Strong Hearts is coming up! Celebrate this Valentines Day by supporting education and leadership programs through Strong Hearts Children’s Foundation.
Jan 1, 2011: Wishing you, your family and friends all the very best for 2011!
What We Do
Working with Children and Youth, we initiate and support projects that help build skills and support success in their lives. Focusing on our three ‘Pillar’ areas of child development, our goal is to provide a fun learning environment to foster growth and leadership.
Kid's Learning Centre: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a country where access to education for many children and youth living in poverty is not a right, but an unachievable dream. This means that many children in Ethiopia will never step foot inside a school or spend time in an organized class environment. Unfortunately, this also means that they are missing the chance to grow and develop into leaders of their society. This is where we hope to help.
About the Centre
The Strong Hearts Kid's Learning Centre initiative in the Mekenisa area of Addis Ababa offers basic necessities required for child and youth development. The project’s aim is;
"To build a sustainable centre that the children, youth, and overall community can use and take ownership over to better their current situations."
With local leaders running the centre, we are able to use contacts and knowledge of the local situation to help deliver the most effective programs.
Goal of the Centre
We are working hard to offer our children and youth something every child deserves – an opportunity.
Where are we now?
Starting small and growing naturally, the Kid’s Learning centre has expanded from roughly 20 kids in December 2008 to over 300 kids currently accessing the various programs. From a single outreach program to over 15 innovative projects, the scope of the centre continues to grow. In 2009, we hosted the first year of our Kindergarten school. In September 2010, that school expanded to include a Nursery, and in total educates 60 students towards a life of learning.
Programs offered at the Learning Centre:
- Youth Leadership Workshops
- After School Study Programs
- Home Work Assistance and Tutoring
- National Exam Preparation Courses
- English Classes
- Dialogue and Discussion Programs
- Crafts and Games
- Open Centre (recreation)
- Sports Camps
- Holiday Celebrations
- Adult Women’s Community Discussion Program
- Basic Health Training
- And others…
Our Kindergarten
Starting September 2009, our Kid’s Learning Centre experienced a significant expansion with the opening of a Kindergarten! Due to construction in the area and limited resources for school fees, an informal school was shut down.