Samuel Carrier, the executive director of Je Passe Partout, leads one of Montreal’s most impactful community organizations focused on educational success for children and youth. Operating since 1988, Je Passe Partout serves over 800 kids annually, providing academic support through small group activities and home visits across 12 schools in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Saint-Léonard.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Je Passe Partout is one of the leading community organizations to support kid’s and youth’s educational success in the city of Montreal and the province of Quebec. Je Passe Partout supports over 800 kids and youth every year through academic support activities in small groups as well as individual visits at home. Our services are offered in 12 schools in the boroughs of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Saint-Leonard.
What problem does it aim to solve?
Je Passe Partout tackles the issue of school drop-out by working with kids and their families to develop abilities that will allow the kids to persevere through their difficulties when they face challenges in their educational path.
When did you start/join it?
Je Passe Partout started in 1988 in the borough of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. I have been executive director for the last 5 years.
What made you want to get involved?
I wanted to get involved in my community and work in a social domain. By working at Je Passe Partout, I get to run an organization with deep ties to its communities and develop new programs to help kids and families face their difficulties and emerge stronger.
What was the situation like when you started?
When the organization was founded in 1988, school drop-out rates were very high in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and nearly half of the population did not hold a high school diploma.
How has it changed since?
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve has changed a lot through the years. The profile of families living here has evolved, but there remain many families who struggle to support their children’s academic path. Our organization works with these families to give an equal chance to all the kids of our territories.
Over the years, Je Passe Partout extended its territory of action to the boroughs of Mercier-Ouest and Mercier-Est, as well as Saint-Léonard.
What more needs to be done?
Education needs to be a societal priority. We need to invest in our children and to believe that every child has an opportunity to succeed if he is given the correct conditions. We need to prioritize this equality of opportunities by supporting charities and local organizations that make a difference every day.
How can our readers help?
You can make a donation on www.jepassepartout.org to help support our work. You can also get involved by coming to work for us, if you believe in the work we do and live nearby. Otherwise, you can look up www.rocld.org to find other organizations like Je Passe Partout near you and reach out to them to get involved.
Do you have any events coming up?
Our next public event will take place in late May as we will host the Youth literacy festival in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Mercier-Ouest.
Where can we follow you?
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