“Ujima” (pronounced oo-JEE-mah) is a Swahili word that means “collective work and responsibility”.

The goal of the Ujima Project is working together with young parents (29 and under) and their children (0-6) to help them thrive and create the lives they want.

There are nine Ujima Project Hubs across Ontario that provide free services for young parents and their children.

You can tell a lot about how your child is doing by how they are behaving, sleeping and eating, if they are meeting their developmental milestones…and how they are responding to you.

You are your child’s first teacher and their biggest cheerleader. You are the person who can make the largest impact in their life.

• Age-Based Screening and Assessment: We can help you identify and respond to your child’s development challenges such as communications skills, and connect you to free Speech and Language services.
• Baby Love – Baby Love is a program for children 2 to 15 months and their parents/caregivers. In this group you will:
  • Learn how to read and calm your baby
  • Learn how to help your baby feel secure
  • Be able to ask development and parenting questions
  • Practice exercises with your baby
  • Meet new friends!
• Family Navigation – Our Family Navigators use a family-centred approach and work to:
  • Address barriers you may be experiencing
  • Connect you to services including housing, tax help and health providers
  • Create an individualized plan and pathway to access services
  • Communicate effectively with care service providers
  • Support your advocacy efforts
• Early Literacy Supports – Our Early Literacy Specialists work individually or in a group setting
  with young parents and their child to offer:
  • Fun, hands-on early learning activities
  • Early childhood resources to help your child reach their full potential

The Ujima Project is an Ontario Association of Young Parents Agencies (OAYPA) initiative, supported by Abiona Centre (formerly Massey Centre), and funded through the generous funding of an anonymous donor.

The Ujima Project is supported by the Young Families Program and Dr. Jean Wittenberg at SickKids Hospital and Queen’s University. If your child needs additional help, the team at the Hub will connect you with SickKids services including tele-health and tele-psychiatry.

The folks at the Ujima Project are here to help you. Participating won’t negatively affect your child in the future.