A Travellin’ Man
When Scotland native Tim Dennis was looking for a new direction in life he didn’t know the answer would be in a Tilley hat.
But that’s exactly where he found it.
A label in the hat for street kids international sent him off on a journey around the globe to talk to and bring awareness too the global problem of homeless youth.
Article by Angela Pezzotti
Soonews.ca www.soonews.ca
Route so Far!
The Route So Far!
Ok red is where i have traveled with the expedition vehicle and the blue denotes where i have been on ships with the vehicle. I have always travelled with my car even when i am at sea, if i can’t travel with the truck then i find another route. How i do this is to find a Roll on Roll off ferry first and if that is not possible use a container line that also accepts passengers.
Route 1. Connect streetKids UK to streetKids Canada
Section One. “World Circumnavigation” Hurray i have achieved my first goal!!
Scotland UK , England UK, ship to France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Czech, Poland, Ukraine, Russia,
over Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China to Vladivostock Russia, ship to Japan two days at sea, Ship container ship to Vancouver Canada, drive to Prudhoe Bay Alaska, then to Toronto Canada.
This has taken 42 weeks to cover 41,000 klm’s using 7500 liters of diesel using 3 ships, i have only ever paid for 11 nights accommodation thanks to my roof tent and the website www.couchsurfing.com and very friendly people. I ran out of money in Alaska and have been assisted by the local Toyota dealer network with the odd tank of gas and servicing. The kindness of people who have supported this Project is amazing.
I have never been happier, living my dream and sharing all i have with others.
Section Two Canada to South America then foot passenger to Antarctica then Brazil
Section Three TBC Possibly Africa.
Electric Car Project Make big things happen!
I am looking for support to continue with an exciting project to drive a production electric car around the world. This will be a continuation of the “RamblingRat benefiting streetKids International Expedition.
Contact me if you would like to get involved. tim@ramblingrat.com
Tim Dennis meets Launch "Concord"
Tim Dennis meets up with Launch Youth “Concord”
Superb day today the sun was out and everyone was happy, this meant that the kids at Launch got to see how i live when i’m in romote parts the world without access to food, water, or shelter, i set up an interactive campsite and they loved climbing inside the roof tent, who wouldn’t its a great space to be in.
Great bunch of kids very lively and talkative from the start asking my loads of questions like “have i killed a crocodile” the answer is no! I took the guitar inside to for the presentation to show them what i have learnt in the last 3 months which is only a few chords really but it always inspires them and within minutes they want to show me what they can do too.
So thanks to all the Kids and staff you are so kind giving me a gift voucher for www.chapter.indigo.ca
Thank you to Lucie Puzzo for setting this up.
LAUNCH west
545 North Rivermede Rd., #102
Concord L4K 4H1
905-760-9169
For more information follow the link below.
Launch "Toronto" Alternative School
The RamblingRat project benefiting streetKids International met up with Launch today.
Launch east is an alternative school on the outskirts of Toronto, the school is one of a few alternative schools that are run by The York Catholic District School Board.
This is the first time that i have visited a school with a representative from streetKids International, Kristy Vanderplas of streetKids runs a project called “Street world” which consists of lesson plans that complement the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum. We were invited by Launch’s Nicky Di Ritto.
We had a great time meeting all the kids, i’d like to thank all of you for been such good listeners and interacting, so many of you asked me questions and it is really good to have some feed back. I was amazed at the knowledge that the youth at this school had, very diverse class with a few of the pupils speaking more than one language too.
I can clearly see what a great school this is and how it benefits the young people in the local community, i wish i had been able to go to a school like yours when i was struggling in mainstream education with learning disability.
So thank you all very much for allowing Kristy and myself to speak at your school. “You are great” Remember! be true to your self.
Thanks to Nicky Di Ritto, Frank Carriero, and Lance Merraro for setting the visit up with streetKids International.
What Launch Say
The program is designed for students “at risk” who, for various reasons, are unable to cope in a regular school setting. Students may be affected by any of the following factors:
lack of self-confidence
gaps in basic knowledge
dropped out of school
need individualized instruction
poor self-image
exert minimal academic effort
seem unable to concentrate
Goal
The programs provide a structured, encouraging environment where students have the opportunity to:
develop and apply positive patterns of behaviour
claim their self-esteem
identify, set and meet their personal and academic goals
appreciate the value of learning
gain a sense of accomplishment by meeting personal, family, school and community expectations
LAUNCH east
10 West Pearce Street, Unit #7
Richmond Hill L4B 1B6
905-907-7913
Tim speaks to Mason Falls and Justin lambert, they share their expiernce of staying in the youth shelter “Pauline’s Place and how they have found creativity and a way to express themselves through music, they hope to communicate this to other youth by starting a Street Youth band called “Invisible People” which they say best describes how they are looked upon by society.
The Shelter
Pauline’s Place Youth Shelter has 8 beds available for homeless youth (16-21 years old), until they find more permanent housing. The shelter is designed to be as muchlike a family enviroment as possible. The house is set up like a home with bedrooms, kitchen, family room and back yard. Youth may have to share a room depending upon the number of residents. The shelter is located in a central residential neighbourhood where bus routes are accessible.
Thank you to all the youth at Pauline’s House for inviting me and to Anne Penney for setting up the visit, your home is so friendly and what great young people and a modern outlook on life you all live by.
Contact Anne Penney: annepenney@paulinesplace.ca
Pauline’s Place Youth Shelter
267 Pim Street
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
P6B 2T4
Phone: 705-759-HOME (4663)
Fax: 705-759-4924
Email: paulinesplace@shaw.ca
Web: www.paulinesplace.ca
Tanner and Tim’s story “Sound quality is a bit poor with the wind oops”
I met up with Tim at lunch on Sunday in the shelter in the soup kitchen, Not to be confused with me but another Tim a lively lad now with a life full of hope, Tim shared his story with me of how he ended up staying in his friend Tanners shed for a couple of weeks to get away from a worsening home situation, eventually he came to realize that the Homeless shelter was his only option for him, he spent a month in the shelter and got connected with The Children’s Aid Society’s Outreach Youth Worker “Marcel Nigro” they have helped him get himself on his feet and find him somewhere to live and prospects for a better future, Tim has his own dreams of being an actor and he told me that he is creative and is looking to utilize these gifts.
Thank you Tanner “Have and Tim for allowing me to interview you both for the RamblingRat Project, you are ambassadors for youth.
Youth Outreach Services “Thunderbay” Children’s Aid Society www.thunderbaycas.ca
I met up with Marcel Nigro who works for The Children’s Aid Society and has been working in the local thunderbay community with street youth for the last 14 years as an outreach worker he is totally committed to his work and has some good ideas of how he would like to create a youth street directory for youth all over Canada to give them access to all their essential needs and rights. What a great idea Marcel.
I would like to thank Marcel for hooking me up to speak to the local street youth community.
Mission Statement of Youth Outreach Services “Thunderbay”The Outreach Program strives to assist marginalized youth to improve the overall quality of their lives, physically, socially and emotionally. |
The Outreach Program was developed to meet the diverse needs of youth at risk who have a variety of issues that are not being met. The fundamental purpose of the program is to enhance all aspects of these youths’ lives, including their physical, social and emotional development. The Outreach Program’s aim is to reach youth who have “fallen through the cracks” of traditional service programs, connecting them with services that they may be unaware of or have had difficulties accessing. The Outreach Worker’s challenge is to guide and support these youth back into the use of traditional and non-traditional supports and services. Through the use of these supports, youth at risk will be able to achieve a more productive and meaningful lifestyle.
We made a stop over the weekend to visit Shelter House in Thunderbay Ontario Canada, We arrived on Sunday and was lucky to be invited into the Shelter by operations manager Wojciech Czupryski, i was shown around and had lunch with many of the homeless local folk in the city, the soup kitchen that day was manned by the volunteer police trainee’s and they had made a good job of preparing the days food which is donated from the local community.
Shelter House Thunder Bay
Shelter House began its operation in 1980 under the name Thunder Bay Emergency Shelter, when several concerned individuals recognized a need to provide overnight shelter against the cold winter nights. It was originally built to service a ‘temporary’ homeless problem. In 1984, Thunder Bay Emergency Shelter became incorporated and was relocated to the corner of Victoria and Simpson Streets. This building was constructed by volunteers on a limited budget, using donated materials. Upon completion, 28 male beds and seven female beds were available. Two youth focused dorms for 5 males and 5 females.
Our Mission
Shelter House is a temporary and transitional service that exists to provide short term relief to those people in need of shelter, food, clothing, and to support access to the resources and services these people require in order to improve their own capacity to meet their basic needs.
Shelter House is guided by the following principles and values:
1. There is a collective responsiblity to help people in need.
2. All people have self worth and are deserving of respect and dignity
3. All people have the right to adequate shelter, food and clothing
4. All people has the right to make choices about their lives.
5. Both the individual and the community benefit from our work.
6. Poverty, injustice and oppression are social problems not a result of individual failings.
7. Through our work we can affect change to eliminate poverty, injustice and oppression.
8. We do not work in isolation to affect this social change.
The Vision of Shelter House is to create a caring community whereby people are able to meet their basic needs.
We work to ensure that:
Peoples basic needs are met
People who are homeless or a risk of homelessness are supported to move forward in ways that they choose.
The community, governments and policy makers are more aware of the root cause of poverty and homelessness and the resulting impact on people and our society.
Shelter House …
acts as a lifeline for hundreds of men, women, and youth. People come to the Shelter to have their basic needs met. These men, women and youth are often struggling through an emotional or financial crisis. Shelter House is often their last hope for help and assistance.
To contact Shelter house their web site is www.shelterhouse.on.ca
I would like to thank Shelter House for inviting me and allowing the press to raise local awareness into youth homeless issues. Thank you Cal and Lucus
Executive Director:
Cal Rankin
E-mail: shed@tbaytel.net
Marketing & Development
Lucas Jewitt
E-mail: marketing@shelterhouse.on.ca
Tim Dennis visits the MacDonald Youth Shelter in “Winnipeg”
Tim Dennis is traveling the world to raise awareness and support for the challenges facing street kids. Tim, who hales from Scotland has been in Canada since November 2008 spreading the word and doing it while driving a home on wheels throughout his travels “for the kids”. While meeting with the media and staff at the MYS campus Winnipeg, Tim shared timely information and made us all even more aware about the risk kids take when they head to the streets and some of the reasons they do it. Tim was also impressed with out own YRC and the work we do at MYS.
MYS takes this opportunity to wish Tim all our best in his travels. Should any one want further information about MYS contact www.mys.ca or this link about todays events with photos.
Click the below link to see more of Tim’s visit to MacDonald Youth Services
www.mys.ca/newsevents-releases.php?entry_id=2359
History
MacDonald Youth Services (MYS) was established in 1929 under the official name of Sir John MacDonald Memorial Hostel, A magistrate and advocate for youth,Hugh John MacDonald would often go out of his way to find jobs for young offenders and was known to give homeless offenders tempory shelter in his own home.
After his passing his legacy is continued in honor of his name, 75 years on and providing services to youth families and the community.
Youth Resource Centre and Shelter
The YRC/Shelter offers short term, overnight,emergency shelter to youth 12 to 17 years old. Crisis intervention counseling, case management, food, clothing and hygiene needs are all services offered to youth 12 to 20 years of age on a walk in basis.
RamblingRat benefiting streetKids International
I would like to thank all the staff at the MacDonald centre for allowing me to visit your facility and having so many press and TV people trudge around, it was obvious that this is a very clean friendly and well run shelter.
Special thanks for setting this up
Leila Dance
External Relations Specialist
Macdonald Youth Services
175 Mayfair Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3L 0A1
ph: 204.949.6527
fax: 204.284.4431
leila.dance@mys.mb.ca
Cynthia Drebot Coordiator cynthia.drebot@mys.mb.ca
Bruce Henry Camera and Video and for being my accommodation sponsor for Winnipeg.
Today i have been very lucky to speak in two great schools in Regina, this was implemented in conjunction with streetKids International, i would like to thank all the young people and teachers and streetKids International for being so supportive of the expedition.
Dylan the Rat raises social awareness
Tim Dennis and students.
The Grade 8 students in Kathleen Woodhouse’s class at Davin School got a visit from a rambling rat on Thursday afternoon.
Dylan, a travelling animated rat, was part of a presentation by Tim Dennis, who represents Street Kids International. This organization is non-profit, operates in more than 60 countries, was founded in Canada and is dedicated to raising awareness about the needs and rights of street youth.
In May 2008, Dennis sold his home and farm in Dalbeattie, Scotland to initiate funds for the project. He’s travelled through Europe, Russia and Japan so far. He travels in his Toyota Landcruiser.
“I was actually getting a lot more out of doing positive things with kids, than I was doing a normal job,” he said of his decision to start working with children.
Dennis introduced himself to the kids as a lover of life and then shared a video from Street Kids International. Afterward, he answered questions and provided some personal insight through his own experiences meeting street youth in various countries.
When Dennis saw the opportunity to travel and to work with street kids living in poverty in different countries and work with youth projects, he jumped on it.
There are 11,000 street kids in Canada, said Dennis, 1,500 to 3,000 of whom do not get a bed to sleep in every night, leaving them at risk for drugs, prostitution and abuse.
Dennis speaks to privileged kids about food, water and shelter and what they really need in life.
“The essential things,” he said. “And a sense of self — to think about what they really want in life and what they’re going to get out of life.”
Woodhouse said Dennis’ presentation ties in with a project the class had been working on about getting past stereotypes that started with a book called from Me to We by Craig Kielburger.
Woodhouse was eager to have Dennis speak because she thought it was an excellent way to tie in another organization. She wanted the students to see the idea of helping others as well as how doing social justice activities are happening in other places.
“So we had Me to We which is Craig Kielburger as a 12-year-old,” she said. “And we have Tim who’s in his 30s and he’s doing this thing with another organization, Street Kids International. So how can we incorporate these two ideas? And maybe we want to work with one, but maybe we can create our own thing on our own scale.”
The class reaction was positive, said Woodhouse, who is looking forward to Monday’s class when they will discuss what they can do as a class in Regina to help.
The Rambling Rat made an earlier stop on Thursday, visiting with a Grade 7/8 class at Coldwell School. Dennis’ travel log can be found on his website (www.ramblingrat.com).
BY SAMANTHA MACIAG, THE LEADER-POST
I really enjoyed connecting to the young people yesterday it gave a real boost to see them take such an interest in the issues of other youth from around the world, they really liked the way that the expedition unites kids from all over the world, and i was overwhelmed at how they supported me giving me encouragement. I feel that they all learned something about themselves and know “life is for living”
Thank you for inviting me to your schools.
From Tim Dennis
Leatha Bird
Coldwell School
Kathleen Woodhouse
Davin Elementary School
