First nations life skills training
First Nation's Life Skills Training
At Reach Toronto, we’re dedicated to supporting First Nations communities through life skills programs that address key areas essential for well-being and holistic development. Our focus is on delivering impactful, culturally resonant learning experiences across four major areas: food and nutrition, financial literacy, independent living skills, urban preparedness and entrepreneurship.
We work with clients of all ages—from toddlers to elders—offering one-week blocks and tailored workshops that honor and incorporate traditional values. For example, in our food and nutrition program, participants learn healthy meal planning while respecting local food traditions. In financial literacy, we help clients build practical skills for managing resources, informed by community values around sharing and sustainability.
Ultimately, our programs are about more than just knowledge; they’re about building confidence, fostering independence, and empowering individuals to thrive in ways that reflect their cultural heritage. We’re proud to walk alongside these communities, helping them grow and preserve their traditions while preparing for a brighter future.
Building blocks refer to the essential soft skills that enable the effective application of hard skills learned across all pillars. Many of our clients struggle with social and communication skills, lack confidence, face challenges in self-advocacy, and have difficulty solving problems. These foundational skills are embedded in everything we teach, ensuring a holistic approach to personal and professional development.
Community Members Who Benefit from our Programs
Youth to enhance independence in all areas of home, school and work life
Parents and tots to help them bond by cooking together and foster life skills development
Children to create a healthy relationship with food while fostering creativity and confidence
Single Parents to help parents develop effective parenting strategies, build strong relationships with their children through food, nutrition and money management
Elders facing health issues who would like to learn to cook and eat nutritionally and economically while fostering independence and socialization
Four Pillars program
FOOD FOR LIFE
URBAN TRANSITION PREPAREDNESS
URBAN TRANSITION PREPAREDNESS
Our Food for Life program aims to empower our clients and communities wth essential culinary skills while fostering creativity, cultural appreciation and a love for wholesome, nutritious, and budget friendly homemade meals. Our program is about fostering health and wellness, fostering independence and empowering future generations of adults, youth and children. Program modules include grocery shopping, cooking skills, understanding labels, shopping within a budget, price comparison, food preparation, nutrition knowledge, food safety and hygiene, cultural and culinary appreciation as well as social and emotional aspects of food
URBAN TRANSITION PREPAREDNESS
URBAN TRANSITION PREPAREDNESS
URBAN TRANSITION PREPAREDNESS
Our Urban Preparedness Program empowers youth with the skills needed for independent urban living. Participants learn essential life skills, from meal planning and daily routines to budgeting for expenses and maintaining a home. As they become comfortable navigating the city, they also learn to use public transportation confidently. The program includes visits to Indigenous centers, providing valuable support to help bridge cultural differences between urban lifestyles and traditional identities. Additionally, participants will explore educational options. Tours of college and university campuses are included as well as meet with Skills Ontario professionals, to help them envision and plan for their future lives and careers.
FINANCIAL LITERACY/MONEY AND YOUTH
This is a crucial pillar as the skills learned here are necessary for all other lifeskills to be successful. This module is designed to enhance financial literacy and promote responsible financial behaviours and decision making. Topics include budgeting basics, creating a personal budget, expenses vs. income, savings, recognizing needs vs. wants, banking essentials, credit and debt management, credit scores and investing for the future
ENTREPRENEURSHIP/THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR
Our program aims to support and empower our clients in starting, managing and growing successful businesses within their communities. Topics in this module include creation of a business, marketing, sales and research, business plans, seeking out loans and grants specific to indigenous entrepreneurs, leadership skills, networking and relationship growing , legal consideration, and product development. Entrepreneurship offers a unique blend of autonomy, opportunity, creativity, and fulfillment that can be highly appealing to individuals seeking to create their own path and make a difference in the world. We provide the tools to help create that dream