International Development Grant
Life Start: A Program to Assist At-Risk Youth
Project Number: CA-3-S064754001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $390,391.00
Start Date: April 23, 2010
End Date: January 31, 2014
Duration: 3.8 years
Project Description
This project introduces an improved model of care that aims to strengthen human rights and life prospects of homeless people at risk and youth in institutions in the city of Odessa. A pilot foster care program is being established for at-risk female youth so they can gain greater access to education and employment with reduced risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. The project aims to improve the organizational capacity of World Hope Ukraine (WHU) and the City of Odessa so that they are able to offer better programming to youth about to be discharged from government-run orphanages at age 16. A baseline study of policy and best-practices is being undertaken to contribute to the development of appropriate protocols and the implementation of youth transition programs.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of June 2013 include: (i) producing and distributing two reports on at-risk youth and good practices in child welfare; (ii) hosting three seminars and several mini seminars which were attended by 15 government officials 67 orphanage directors and staff and 47 members from non-governmental organizations working with at-risk youth; (iii) setting up a successful foster care program including selecting and training a coordinator and four foster families and placing nine young women in these homes two of whom have successfully transitioned to independent living; and (iv) developing a life skills curriculum which has helped about 104 girls and 136 boys in five orphanages to leave institutional care to date. These results are contributing to the improvement of human rights and life opportunities of at risk youth through the implementation of new laws policies and practices; better prepare young women transitioning to independent living; implement an improved model of community based care for at-risk youth; and provide youth with greater access to education employment and increased human rights.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
World Hope International
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Other technical assistance
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP