Yo Bro | Yo Girl Youth Initiative To Create New Youth Hub In Surrey Through New Investment From The Government of Canada

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Funded through the Crime Prevention Action Fund (CPAF), YBYG will support up to 1,000 youth in Surrey over five years

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SURREY, British Columbia — Yo Bro | Yo Girl Youth Initiative (YBYG), a long-standing leader in strength‑based youth violence prevention programs, is receiving new federal support to expand its impact in Surrey. Funded through the Crime Prevention Action Fund (CPAF), the Government of Canada’s investment will directly enhance programming within Surrey through the development of a Youth Engagement Hub, enabling the organization to reach up to 1,000 young people over the course of the project (2025 – 2030).

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“It is crucial to invest in community-based solutions to address the challenges faced by young people. Through Public Safety Canada’s Crime Prevention Action Fund, we are supporting innovative projects like Yo Bro Yo Girl’s Youth Initiative’s Engagement Hub, which will help youth to gain the tools they need to avoid a life of crime and to create safer and healthier communities,” said the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety.

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The Youth Engagement Hub will provide coordinated, comprehensive services to young people facing intersecting social, academic, and personal challenges. Programming encompasses mentorship, school and community-based outreach, culturally informed support, recreational programs, and pathways to employment and leadership.

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“For over 15 years, Yo Bro | Yo Girl Youth Initiative has supported thousands of young people across the Lower Mainland and Greater Vancouver, helping them create safer, stronger, and brighter futures,” said Joe Calendino, Co-founder and Executive Director of YBYG. “With funding from Public Safety Canada’s Crime Prevention Action Fund, the Government of Canada’s investment in our Surrey Youth Engagement Hub will directly serve up to 1,000 youth and contribute to safer, healthier communities. We are grateful for this federal commitment, which recognizes the impact of organizations like YBYG and reinforces the importance of early intervention and prevention, enabling us to expand vital supports for youth in Surrey.”

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Since its humble beginnings in 2008, YBYG has provided support to over 15,000 youth, as well as promoted drug, gang and violence prevention awareness through hundreds of school and community presentations across the country.

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For YBYG, this funding represents an opportunity to further scale its proven, relationship-driven approach — one that has helped thousands of youth build resilience, stay connected to school, and avoid the pressures of gangs and violence.

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“YBYG changed the trajectory of my life,” said Zainab, a YBYG Program Coordinator. “When I joined the program as a teenager, I was struggling to find direction and didn’t feel connected to my community. The mentors here believed in me before I believed in myself. Now, years later, I’m proud to be a mentor in the same program that helped me grow. Supporting young people who are facing the same challenges I once did isn’t just meaningful. It is proof that when youth are given the right support, they can become leaders in their own communities.”

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For more information on YBYG, its programs and opportunities to support, visit www.ybyg.ca.

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About Yo Bro | Yo Girl Youth Initiative

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Yo Bro | Yo Girl Youth Initiative (YBYG) is a community-based leader in evidence-driven youth violence prevention and intervention across the Lower Mainland and Greater Vancouver. For more than 15 years, YBYG has worked alongside schools, families, community partners, and local municipalities to deliver strengths-based, trauma-informed programs that help youth stay connected, resilient, and safe. Through mentorship, outreach, culturally informed supports, and wrap-around services, YBYG empowers vulnerable young people to build positive pathways while contributing to safer, healthier communities. Its relationship-driven model has supported thousands of youth and continues to play a vital role in reducing risk factors, fostering belonging, and strengthening community well-being.

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