Jana gregorio
Mississauga, ON – In May 2022, Achēv received a $149,700 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to support their efforts to create an accessible, user-friendly digital library of resources to support staff, clients and the community. The project will be completed in May 2023 and will support the organization’s digital transformation journey and countless clients for years to come.
“I am thrilled with the announcement that Achēv, a cornerstone organization in my riding of Mississauga Centre is benefitting from a $149,700 Resilient Communities Fund grant. The grant has been used to help Achēv enhance their technological capacity with an increased emphasis on digitizing services. This will increase accessibility and efficiency and, in turn, better serve vulnerable residents in both Mississauga Centre and beyond,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, MPP for Mississauga Centre.
Achēv used the grant to research options and develop a digital asset management system (online library), AchēvShare, to consolidate and share a wealth of client service resources and make them accessible to more clients and staff. “Making our company-developed resources available to all our staff and clients is critical. This OTF-funded project has enabled us to create a customized digital library consolidating a wealth of resources on topics such as job search tips, language learning, and more. All in formats that address needs on an immediate basis,” said CEO Tonie Chaltas.
OTF has also provided Achēv with a $37,300 Capital Grant to purchase 10 Smart Boards and accessories. Smart Boards will allow Achēv to provide interactive in-person, hybrid and virtual services to their clients. The touchscreen feature aligned with easy sync to staff’s laptop content results in dynamic events, sessions, classes, workshops, meetings etc. The new technology was received by staff with excitement: “Great! Yes, very excited! I have been suggesting it for some time. I use them for teaching and love the experience.”
Achēv aims to change people’s lives as they discover their potential and achieve their purpose. It is one of the largest non-profit providers of employment, youth, settlement, women and language services in the Greater Toronto Area, serving over 100,000 clients in 2022. Since the pandemic, the organization has quickly adapted tools and processes to provide more online services in record time, providing essential community supports to job seekers, women, newcomers and youth. Further information can be found at www.achev.ca.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
