We are Beat the Streets
A positive youth development charity encouraging
Physical literacy is key to active lifestyles and healthy habits
We use combat sports and a physical literacy framework delivered by professional coaches & athletes to teach transferable fundamental movement skills and encourage active lifestyles.
Mental well-being is a predictor of academic achievement
We use experiential activities to improve social-emotional skills and build resiliency and confidence to help youth realize their full potential.
Employability skills help youth flourish in the workplace
We use an employability skills framework and mentoring to improve the hard and soft skills of youth to encourage success in the workplace.
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We help kids dream big
Who we serve
We serve low-income children and youth ages 6-24 who experience barriers to accessing recreational and development opportunities that can impact their academic achievement.
Where we work
BTS works in low-income communities and schools across the Greater Toronto Area. We have worked with more than 70 schools to deliver free educational and recreational programs.
Why we do it
125,000 children and youth live in low-income situations in Toronto. In Peel, 52% of neighbourhoods are considered low-income. Our goal is to increase access to high-quality learning programs for low-income youth.
Latest news & stories
We impact youth
Through our unique combat sports & skill-building programs
“Very engaging and informative lessons about using goals to create a new lifestyle and change the way you think about things”
Level Up participant, 2021
“It was super duper fun! The exercises made me feel really good and the instructors were really kind and helpful! Would like to do this again soon, it was awesome!”
Wrestle 4 Fun participant, 2021
“This program taught me about self-love, organization, time management, fitness and overall how to take care of myself - It was a wonderful learning experience.”
You Grow Girl participant, 2020
"If there were any summer job opportunity that I could recommend to youth in Toronto, it would be the Work It program.”
Taha Saffiqi, Work It participant, 2021
What BTS youth say
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Phebe
"BTS helped changed my mindset, allowed me to gain a sense of what working in a work environment is like and helped me obtain transferable skills for future job opportunities.”
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Taha
"I feel as if I'm already ready to work in a professional workspace with all the soft and hard skills I was taught, such as time management or grant writing.”
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Christelle
“Throughout the last 7 weeks, I discovered what I was capable of and got to see myself under a completely new lens.”
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Dip Lad
“It means a lot to me that my coaches picked me for the scholarship with other athletes that they could have picked from the Beat the Streets Toronto Program.”
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Mayya
“I've gotten to work on a variety of projects that increased my confidence. Even if I get a task with which I'm unfamiliar, I will be able to figure it out and do it well because of my work ethic.”
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Tyler
“I am thankful for everything Beat the Streets has done for me. I have learned so much from many great people.”
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Kathy Khoa
I can say that BTS has taught me so many skills that helped me in my career goals and social, mental and physical well-being. The WorkIt program exceeded beyond my expectations and is better than any 9-5 job I have ever had.
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Mofe
“After working with Beat the Streets, I’ve become ... a better version of what I used to be”
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Milan
“I learned how to write professionally and what goes on behind the scenes of a business. I've gained valuable work experience, improved my work ethic, and made new connections.”
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Victoria
"Through BTS help, I am now able to take pride in my work and say confidently what I’m good at.... I feel I was also able to improve my graphic design skills, since I got lots of opportunities to practise.”
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Arwen
"My time with Beat the Streets has undoubtedly been a journey full of learning and growing. I have learned many skills that help in becoming independent, confident and a hard worker.”
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Dilshan
"Beat the Streets has taught me a plethora of different skills and has truly helped me to grow as a person....knowing that someone always has my back or teaching me that all I have to do is believe in myself.”
2022 impacts
We removed barriers and increased access to educational and recreational opportunities
3,604
low-income children & youth ages 6-24 served in the GTA
1,203
hours of sports, skill-building and mentoring opportunities delivered
450
hours of volunteer experience created for youth
BTS partners
