HIPPY Canada :: Helping communities, help parents, help children!

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The HIPPY program is a cost effective family literacy strategy that is supported on four pillars - parents teach children, role-play is used as the method of teaching, the educational activities are centred around a highly structured, lock step curriculum, and parents teach parents.

When melded together these components create a potent remedy to many of the conditions contributing to inter-generational poverty that are not addressed through short-term unstructured interventions. It breaks the cycle of poverty and low-level literacy by providing employment and training to multi-barriered individuals, improves adult literacy, prepares children for school, reduces social isolation and increases parental involvement in school.

The HIPPY model has been tested and

demonstrated effective in several countries around the world in a wide variety of settings over a long period of time. It produces results!

Click here to download the Startup Manual (pdf file 372 KB)

HIPPY Fundraiser Event

Join us for our HIPPY Canada Dinner Honouring Hershell Ezrin
When: Tuesday 29 March 2011
WHere: Sheraton Centre Hotel Toronto
More information: Catherine Morrow, 416 908-4466
To Donate to the event:
To Purchase Event ticket:

HIPPY News

HIPPY is 10 years old
and still growing. Take a look at our 10 year commemorative document to see how far we've come.
Click here for the full document.

HIPPY Canada/Thompson Rivers University - Open Learning Partnership Program for HIPPY Home Visitors
HIPPY Canada is pleased to announce that the HIPPY Home Visitor training program has been awarded 15 APST (Applied Studies) credits at the 100 level (first year college) to any HIPPY Home Visitor who satisfactorily completes the 30 week, full-time training program at the HIPPY sites that have been in existence for 3 years or more with a suitably qualified Coordinator. These credits can be used as appropriate towards an Thompson Rivers University - Open Learning credential; acceptability will vary with the choice of credential.

HIPPY Canada is happy to offer this program to the Home Visitors as a fulfillment of our promise to promote their professional and personal growth and in turn their contribution to a healthy, thriving and inclusive community.

Bond to Literacy
Many Canadian parents want to support their children’s learning, but don’t have the skills and resources to do so. The Bond to Literacy program works with other Canadian not-for-profit organizations to improve the literacy levels of geographically isolated, low-income and/or disadvantaged families and children. Staff at partner organizations are resourced and trained to help parents to instill the love of reading in their children thereby, helping prepare the children for school. Bond to Literacy is funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada.

Practicing Citizenship
This project is a partnership between HIPPY Canada, HIPPY Britannia, Multicultural Helping House & MOSAIC, and is designed to support the participation of newcomer women in Canadian society. The project draws on all of the partners’ rich and varied experience of working with immigrant and refugee communities. The program systematically blends theory and skills for public participation with a guided opportunity to apply this knowledge to real life challenges through community based projects. Practicing Citizenship is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada

HIPPY Events in 2010

September 20-24, 2010
Pre-Service Training in Toronto

November 1-5, 2010
HIPPY Conference and AGM in Ottawa

HIPPY Canada Board

The following Officers have been elected for the 2010-2011 term:

Tim Casgrain - Chair
Ann Cowan - Treasurer
Janet Crawford - Secretary
Sheldon Ehrenworth
Henry Green
Stephen Herbert
Judith Moses - Past Chair
Carol Slater
Claire Sumerlus
Richard Stursberg
Miriam Westheimer - Ex-officio

HIPPY Canada
Charitable Tax Number

863188538 RR0001

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