About Our Organization
Building Bridges, Changing Lives!
About Us
At ANYO, we are driven by a passion for creating inclusive communities and supporting newcomers and immigrant children and youth in their journey to becoming proud Canadians. Founded on the belief that sports and social interactions are powerful catalysts for positive change, we strive to address the economic, systemic, and social barriers that many newcomers and immigrant families face during their integration into Canadian society.
Our Mission
ANYO’s mission is to support newcomers and immigrant children and youth to prosper as new Canadians by utilizing sports and social interactions as engaging platforms to connect, addressing the economic, systemic, and social barriers that many newcomers and immigrant families face in their integration journey in Canada.
Our Vision
We are determined to eliminate the sports participation gap so that we improve mental
well-being and reduce social isolation for children and youth from lower and
middle-income newcomers, refugees, and immigrant families in Ottawa.
Our Values
Our Partners/Funders
We’re canada-wide non-profit charity.
Who We Are
Our Story
The links between school success and healthy participation in activities outside of school hours are clear. Research has demonstrated that the more access a child or youth has to positive activities during these “critical hours” outside of school hours, the higher their chance of success in school and life.
The Active Newcomer Youth Ottawa (ANYO) came as a result of the PhotoVoice project organized by the Social Planning Council of Ottawa (SPCO). The PhotoVoice project made us realize the lack of accessible social-based programs especially to immigrant and newcomer youth and the impact it possesses to the mental health wellbeing of the youth.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the ONSCF/CDF mental health planning process identified a demand from vulnerable residents for more alternatives, particularly social-based and peer mental health support. Then COVID-19 hit, significantly increasing levels of stress and mental health issues, particularly among black and racialized newcomer communities in Ottawa. The levels of stress have been further pushed to the breaking point for Black and racialized newcomer youth who are faced with difficulties to socialize, find employment, and social isolation policies.
Active Newcomer Youth Ottawa (ANYO) has identified soccer to be the best social-based and peer-led mutual support group to help their communities grapple with growing anxiety, depression and anger and despair. That is why the organization was created so that we can provide a safe space that allows us to promote positive mental health wellness through sports and recreational activities.
Our Values
