Woodgreen Mentorship

The WoodGreen Child Mentorship Program is a student-led initiative at the University of Toronto in partnership with WoodGreen Community Services, one of Toronto’s largest social service agencies. This program operates as a subset of WoodGreen’s Homeward Bound initiative, which supports single mothers and mother-led families experiencing housing insecurity as they pursue postsecondary education and long-term self-sufficiency.
Our program pairs U of T students pursuing careers in healthcare with children aged 6–12 from Homeward Bound families. Through regular in-person sessions, mentors develop meaningful, long-term relationships with their mentees while leading fun, engaging, and educational activities—ranging from arts and crafts to sports, scavenger hunts, and field trips. Each session offers a safe, supportive environment for children to play, grow, and learn, while also giving their mothers time to focus on their personal and academic goals. Lunch is provided for both children and mentors at the end of each session.
Overall, the WoodGreen Child Mentorship Program is deeply committed to health equity, community empowerment, and social responsibility through consistent mentorship and meaningful engagement with equity-deserving communities.
Sessions are held on Saturday mornings at the WoodGreen Community Centre in East York, with approximately 11 sessions held throughout the academic year.