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 become 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, utilizing sports and social interactions as engaging platforms to connect in order to address 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
We implement our programs aligning with core values of inclusivity, affordability, fun and fairness and social development which lead to a quality experience for all our participants.
Our Partners/Funders
We’re worldwide non-profit charity.
Support the Cause: Donate to ANYO
At ANYO, we believe in creating a community where newcomers and immigrant youth can thrive, connect, and prosper as proud Canadians. Your generous contributions play a vital role in making this vision a reality. By donating to ANYO, you directly impact the lives of individuals facing economic, systemic, and social barriers in their integration journey.
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
