Grade 9 students in Brantford are finding their voice thanks to a new YMCA program
More than 80 Grade 9 students at Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School participated in the YMCA's Youth Achievers Program from January to June, helping them gain practical skills, build confidence, and discover new ways to handle challenges both inside and outside the classroom. For some students, the impact has been immediate.
The Youth Achievers Program helps young people develop essential life skills through interactive learning, mentorship, and community connection. Through weekly sessions focused on topics like adaptability, resilience, leadership, study skills, communication, and relationship building, students gain tools they can apply to their everyday lives.
A Partnership Built Around Student Needs
The partnership between the YMCA and Brantford Collegiate Institute began in summer 2025 when school administrators were looking for programming to address gaps they were seeing among students.
"We approached [the Vice Principal] about a different YMCA youth program, and organically in the conversation we started talking about the Youth Achiever’s framework," explains Kim Horan, General Manager of Youth Intervention Services at YMCA Hamilton | Burlington | Brantford.
She says Brantford Collegiate Institute was looking for something to help students, and the YMCA was already building it.
"It was synergy, beautifully aligned...let's try this.'"
The focus areas for the Youth Achievers Program were exactly what the school was looking for, creating an opportunity to pilot the initiative with Grade 9 students. With the school’s support, the program was quickly integrated into the day, making it accessible to students where they already learn and connect.
One day each week, YMCA staff work directly with students during class time, delivering engaging activities that bring important skills to life. The mix of discussion, teamwork, critical thinking, and hands-on learning helps students move beyond theory and put new skills into practice.
Activities range from collaborative challenges and leadership exercises to study-skills workshops and interactive games. In one session, students worked together to solve intentionally mixed-up puzzles where they had to think critically and communicate.
"Students don't appreciate [the puzzle game] when they're going through it," Kim says with a laugh. "But when we read the feedback, the puzzle was something that they really enjoyed because it made them think and they could align it with certain things in their life."
As part of the program, students also get to spend a day touring and doing activities at the Laurier Brantford YMCA, with some even signing up for three-month memberships.
Creating Opportunities for Growth
For Kim, one of the most meaningful outcomes has been seeing students step outside their comfort zones and discover strengths they may not have realized they had.
During an end-of-semester debrief, a teacher shared the story of a student who was typically quiet in class.
"She could see some growth with [him]," says Kim. "The youth was very quiet, and then he was put into a leadership role [through the Youth Achiever’s Program]. She got to see him kind of come into his own."
"It's scary to be in a new class when you're not as confident [as some of the other students]," says Kim. “Then to develop those skills and become outwardly facing and be the leader and run the activity and just nail it," says Kim. "That's cool."
Asked what makes the program unique, Kim says it’s about “community”
"We're trying to make the connection with the youth, make it relatable within their lives where they can take the learnings away with them. They can apply it in their day-to-day life," she says.
That real-world relevance is what helps students carry lessons forward long after a session has ended.
“The Youth Achiever’s Program has been transformative for some of these students,” says Heidi Schleifer, Vice Principal at Brantford Collegiate Institute. “We were searching for something that would help our students be better prepared for real life, where we’re often faced with unexpected challenges and circumstances.
"This program was the right fit. Students have gained confidence, are more sure of themselves, are more connected to each other, and are better at facing tough situations.”
“We look forward to having the program continue for the 2026-2027 school year.”
Looking Ahead
As the program continues to grow, the YMCA hopes to expand its reach within Brantford Collegiate Institute and across the Grand Erie region. The long-term vision is to support students through multiple years of high school, creating opportunities to build upon skills and track growth over time.
“I would like to see the program continue to work with Grade 9s but add buildable programming, meaning that we continue to add skill development programming to new grades year after year to build upon the skills the students learn in the previous year's programming,” says Kim.
“The hope is that we can see the progression of the skills they developed and the personal growth they experience.”
As schools and communities continue to navigate the changing needs of youth, partnerships like the one between the YMCA and BCI show what's possible when organizations come together around a shared goal—helping young people realize their potential.
