How a simple game of cricket is creating positive change in Scarborough
It's shocking but true. United Way research* shows that the number of high poverty neighbourhoods in Toronto jumped from 30 in 1981 to 120 in 2001. The majority of these neighbourhoods are located in the inner suburbs where social services and infrastructure are sorely lacking. One such neighbourhood is Scarborough Village.
"I truly believe in this neighbourhood," says Tully Ghanny, a local resident who moved to Canada from Ghuyana 30 years ago. Tully now leads the Scarborough Village Cricket Club—a social and recreational venture made possible by Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC), a United Way initiative that is based the idea that strong neighbourhoods are those where local residents take leadership and responsibility for their community. Funding for the cricket equipment was secured and ANC connected residents with Parks and Recreation to obtain permits for use of the city park. Now kids from diverse backgrounds—Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, Afghani, West Indian—come together to play a sport that not only has cultural resonance for them but also teaches skills such as teamwork, discipline and leadership.
Parents watch their children play from the sidelines, sharing laughs and personal stories. With positive connections like this being made, it's not long before residents start believing in the possibilities for their community.
With your continued support of United Way, neighbourhoods like Scarborough Village and residents like Tully Ghanny will continue to experience positive change.
*Taken from Poverty by Postal Code, 2004.