EvenStart provides an early intervention program for children of ages three to six years. These children and their families are financially marginalized and have experienced childhood trauma in the form of poverty, abuse, and neglect. Our organization’s goal is to give children born into such hardship, the same opportunities as those available to their peers. In this way all children, regardless of circumstances will be given the best possible start in life.

In our daily program routine, outdoor activity is emphasized. This exposure to the outdoors involves exercise and playground fun activity/therapy, especially important for building upon the poor or absent socialization skills many of these children exhibit.

NATURE OF THE PROJECT

The current playgrounds at the Dowtonw and Signal Hill site locations are inadequate to the needs of our current enrolments. Equipment purchased and installed at the commencement of educational services in 1995, is becoming dated. Before security and safety concerns become an issue, we have determined that upgrades or replacement of equipment is in order.

Through the help of the surrounding community, our programs’ parents, and the children themselves, we are embarking on a fund- raising campaign for the $15,000 needed to bring our playground site into a fully functional and effective play time and therapy medium. To do this, we will need to expend the dollars outlined below to acquire certified ‘tot lot’ equipment.