Starts With One
Who We Are
Starts with One (SWO) is a grassroots non-profit student-led organization dedicated to improving the quality of and access to education for Canadian youth and their families. Specifically, SWO focuses on improving access to extracurricular programming for low-income and new Canadians. We envision a community in which all Canadians can learn in an equitable environment they deserve. We believe that all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status, deserve an opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
Solidarity, Not Charity
SWO actively recognizes the systemic barriers to receiving quality education in Canada, and are committed to advocacy and activism to achieve long-term sustainable changes at the policy level.
Led by BIPOC students for BIPOC students
All programs are developed and BIPOC, students for BIPOC students, building student confidence.
Community and Student-Centered
All programs developed are culturally-relevant, drawing in strengths and needs from students, their families and the community.
Inclusive
SWO recognizes the rights of all individuals to mutual respect and acceptance without any biases, and believes that every student has unique strengths and should never be left behind.
What We Do
We provide FREE community-based and culturally-relevant online tutoring to students of all ages, across the Greater Toronto Area, for any subject required. Our E-Learning Initiative currently has over 100 students from 46 different families, and is home to 95 volunteers. Further, SWO’s Education Justice Coalition brings activism into the heart of our organization, researching and hosting campaigns to raise awareness for structural inequities in Canadian education systems. SWO also provides community advocacy, helping you and your child gain access to technology and learning material to support their education journey.
Why We Are Needed
"My child is a very shy boy. He doesn't like to talk much, and even with family members, he is uncomfortable with expressing himself. However, ever since joining SWO in late 2021, my child has begun to be much more comfortable within being in online school, and feels more confident in making friends and happier overall."
Parent at Starts With One
*Name has been excluded for privacy purposes
Thank You to Our Partners & Collaborators!
At Starts With One, we recognize that our work and activities take place on the traditional and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples who have stewarded these lands for thousands of years. We acknowledge that the Greater Toronto Area, where many of our initiatives are centered, exists on the lands of the Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. This land continues to be home to diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
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We acknowledge the deep injustices and systemic oppression faced by Indigenous communities as a result of colonization, which continues to impact them to this day. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is intertwined with the struggle for Indigenous sovereignty, justice, and the dismantling of colonial systems of oppression.
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We understand that true social justice cannot be achieved without addressing the ongoing effects of colonization and working in solidarity with Indigenous peoples. We strive to incorporate Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and voices into our work, ensuring that our efforts contribute to the broader movement for decolonization and justice.
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We invite everyone to engage in continuous learning and to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities. For more resources and to better understand the Indigenous territories we occupy, please visit Native Land, a tool for exploring Indigenous lands and promoting meaningful land acknowledgements.