The Eritrean Canadian Association of Ontario Youth Soccer Club (ECAO YSC) is a not-for-profit recreational organization that has helped develop the children of this community toward good sportsmanship and carry-over values of athletic knowledge and skills.

The organization strives to make soccer and other sports activities accessible to all children by working with other affiliated organizations and clubs that have similar objectives and ideals. It is a volunteer-based organization established since 2001 serving youth from the ages of 4 to 18 years old. The City of Toronto offers world-class recreation facilities which are utilized in developing the kids on a yearly basis. The city is also aware of the importance of sports in our society, especially among our youth. ECAO YSC has produced countless stand-up athletes who are actively participating in high-level competitions representing clubs, schools, and universities in track and field, basketball, and soccer.

We have recently been advised by Joseph J. Piccininni's Supervisor that starting this Fall we will no longer have the permit that we have held since 2001 for the upper level Gym, running 9:00AM to 1:00PM, and the playfield gym, running from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. Reducing 8 hours is greatly impacting our program and our community that strived to produce upstanding citizens for the past 20+ years. 

Our program hosts 200-250 youth per season. These kids join the program at 4 years of age and remain active participants of the program until they graduate high school and enrol in colleges and universities. Our community soccer, at any given time has been consistently supported by 25 volunteer coaches and over 30 high school volunteers yearly. Parents are active partners of this organization supporting the program and our children in their active life style.

ECAO YSC, being one of the largest Eritrean organizations in the city, we need the City of Toronto to recognize the impact this will have on the youth of this community and its environs. We ask that the City of Toronto recognizes the importance of this program and its significance it has on many peoples lives, and we look to achieve a workable solution to benefit both parties involved to be put forward so that our program can continue at the capacity it operates and continue to grow and so that The City of Toronto can also continue with its plans bilaterally other than one overtaking another. 

We are now looking for our participants and the general communities support in pushing the matter and to show them the great impact these changes would make for not only ECAO YSC but also the overall Eritrean Community in Toronto and its environs. 

Below you'll find some media links showing the youth we have been able to bring together:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/iyobfoto/page36

https://www.flickr.com/photos/iyobfoto/4902104038/in/photostream/