As a young professional in Toronto, Melanie Kisirye was looking for ways to support the most vulnerable in her community.
“I see so many people experiencing homelessness in our city, and I always ask myself, ‘What can I do to help?’”
First, she joined Covenant House Toronto’s NextGen Council, a group of driven changemakers between the ages of 25-35 who help guide Covenant House leadership and inspire the next generation of donors, volunteers, and community leaders.
When they formed a team to participate in the annual Sleep Out: Champions Edition event, she signed up right away.
“Sleep Out is one way I can make an impact,” she said. The event raises critical funds that help Covenant House provide 16–24-year-olds experiencing homelessness with a safe place to stay, nutritious meals, and access to on-site healthcare centre, counselling services, education, job readiness training. These are all crucial resources that empower young people to build their stable and promising future – and a mission Melanie feels passionate about supporting.
As Melanie prepares for her first Sleep Out, she’s heard from fellow council members about how transformative the experience is. “It gave them a chance to learn more about the reality of youth homelessness and reflect on how too many young people have had to adapt to unsafe, unstable environments,” she said.
By taking part, Melanie hopes to use her voice to help shift perspectives and remind people that homelessness is not a choice, that a lot of young people have dealt with unimaginable hardship at such a young age. They need care and support, and people to show up for them.
For Melanie, it’s a small way she can help make a difference.
“It’s about being part of something bigger—a community that supports and cares for those who need it most.”