Services

Welcome and Integration Services

Welcome to Ottawa, Canada!

At YECO, we offer dedicated Welcome and Integration Services for newcomer youth in Ottawa. Our mission is to support immigrant youth as they navigate their new environment—economically, socially, and culturally. We provide essential information and referral services that connect young newcomers to the resources they need to thrive and feel at home in their community.

As part of our commitment, YECO runs a Settlement Support Program specifically designed to help youth integrate successfully into their new communities. These initiatives address a wide range of challenges, including language barriers, cultural adjustment, academic integration, social inclusion, counseling, transportation, life skills, and document use. Although this program is not funded by any organization, it is sustained through the dedication of volunteers and a strong referral network. We connect youth with IRCC-funded organizations that offer specialized support for newcomer youth. Services available through this network include language training, peer mentorship, cultural orientation workshops, recreational activities, career guidance, family engagement, mental health programs, community service opportunities, intercultural dialogue, legal referrals, leadership development, and financial literacy education

Ready to Work Program

YECO’s Ready to Work program is designed to equip newcomer youth in Ottawa with the tools, confidence, and connections they need to succeed in the workforce. In partnership with Volunteer Ottawa, we deliver comprehensive employment support through a team of experienced volunteers who specialize in youth engagement and community outreach. This program focuses on building career readiness, enhancing life skills, and fostering economic independence.

Art (Photovoice)

Over the past three years, YECO has embraced art as a powerful vehicle for social change, using creative expression to confront urgent issues such as community safety, racism, discrimination, inclusion, and gun violence. Through our Photovoice initiative, youth participants engage in photography and storytelling to share their lived experiences, raise awareness, and inspire meaningful dialogue.

The program began in 2021 with a three-month training focused on gun violence, made possible by funding from the Social Planning Council of Ottawa. In 2022, Youth Action Now provided additional support to sustain the initiative. Most recently, in 2024, YECO received a multi-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to expand the program’s reach and impact.

In 2024, the Photovoice project also received generous financial support from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

To date, more than 100 youth have taken part, demonstrating how art can foster healing, amplify voices, and build stronger, more inclusive communities.