The federal government announced a $5.2 million dollar contribution Friday to a youth gang prevention program in Edmonton.
Edmonton – Spruce Grove MP and Minister of Health Rona Ambrose said the money will go towards the WrapEd project, an initiative involving several organizations, which focuses on keeping vulnerable youth in Edmonton out of gangs.
"There's no doubt that addressing crime requires a sustained and joint effort from government, from law enforcement and from individuals and organizations in our community," said Ambrose. "This is why our government continues to work closely with partners here in Edmonton, and across the country, to improve public safety."
The project was created by REACH Edmonton and involves The Africa Centre, Edmonton John Howard Society, Edmonton Police Services, Native Counselling Services of Alberta and YOUCAN.
WrapEd, which stands for wraparound Edmonton, began at the beginning of October and focuses on up to 180 vulnerable, multi-barriered youth primarily from Aboriginal and refugee communities.
Participants are between the ages of 12 and 17 who are most at risk at getting involved with gangs.
Tesfaye Ayalew, Executive Director of the Africa Centre, said that age group – especially youth from refugee families – are at a high risk of ending up involved in gang activity when they start life in Canada.
“When they find school challenging, what do they do?” Ayalew said. “They either drop out, they go to the malls, start doing some other things.”
The program is set to run until 2018, and at the end of the five-year period it is expected participants will be less involved in youth gang criminal activity, will disengage in gangs and will have strengthened their cultural and community connections.
The goal of the project is to help 180 youth, and Ayalew is hopeful for its success.
“Even if we save one, that’s very, very important,” Ayalew said.
With files from Sarah Richter
