The ELF began as a program of Sage Youth – Jeunesse Sage. Sage Youth is an Ottawa-based registered charity that was founded in 1992. Its mandate is to provide free literacy and mentoring programs to high-need children and youth. Students are from low-income, new Canadian, homeless and special needs communities. Over 7,000 children have been given the gifts of literacy and hope with the support of staff and over 1900 volunteer tutor/mentors.
Word of Sage Youth’s efficient, effective, and cost-effective programs spread through Ontario’s network of school boards and community service agencies. Organizations from across the country, and later across the world, began requesting that we share our expertise. Sage Youth staff became de facto consultants at school boards and other NGOs, providing expertise for the development of their own literacy programs. Therefore, in 2002, Sage Youth created a division called the Excellence in Literacy Foundation.
The ELF has provided training, literacy workbooks, and small grants to 200 community organizations and schools across Canada. ELF supported programs have served over 22,000 children, predominantly from First Nations, new Canadian, and low-income communities. Outstanding volunteers have taken our program method and materials with them to orphanages in Ghana, Lesotho and Thailand.
Thanks to the vision of our directors and the passion of our community partners, the ELF has been operating as an independent charity since 2005.