Fueling STEM Futures
Our Year-End Campaign
Every STEM journey begins with a single spark. Growing up in Dan Leckie, STEM was unfamiliar to Hamza until his friend Ilyas connected him with Visions of Science at 14. "It was our trips [with Visions] to places like the ROM that really sparked my STEM journey," he recalls.
In Regent Park, Sara’s challenge was different: a natural passion for health and science, but lacking “the resources and a vessel to really foster my passion." That's where Visions came in, providing fundamental programming and mentorship.
Now, Hamza and Sara are actively fueling the next generation of STEM futures in their own communities.
While studying computer programming at TMU, Hamza works at Visions of Science, and he’s paying it forward. When he and Ilyas noticed the lack of free programming for youth in Dan Leckie, they filled this critical gap. Using the skills and confidence gained at Visions, they founded D-Way, a non-profit creating supportive, culturally responsive programming for inner-city youth in their community. This is exponential change, one program multiplying into a movement.
Meanwhile, Sara is a campus ambassador at Queen’s, while also working with Visions of Science. She brings her university experience and career knowledge back to youth, connecting STEM lessons to real life, showing them "you can integrate what you learn here into what you want to do in the future". She says, "I want [youth] to understand that they have the potential to do anything."
The ultimate goal is simple: "I hope that the next generation will see more familiar faces in STEM... breaking down those barriers and essentially making them feel that they can succeed in these roles.” says Hamza.
While both youth started as Visions of Science participants, growing into volunteers, and later, paid program facilitators, the long-term impact is really about transformational confidence.
"My mentors [at Visions] helped me grow in so many ways. The whole experience has opened up many doors for me and changed me personally as well for the better." Hamza shares.
Sara’s growth was also diverse, from varied STEM internships, to her post-secondary application to Queen’s University, where she is currently pursuing Health Sciences. "My mentors have done so much for me," Sara says. "My family couldn't afford tuition on our own…[Visions] helped me apply for the RBC Future Launch scholarship...they’re really a big part of who I am and where I am today."
The true ripple effect of 'Fueling STEM Futures’ is empowering leaders who create futures for hundreds more.
Fueling STEM Futures highlights the ripple effect made possible when we invest in youth. One youth becomes a leader. One spark becomes a pathway. One gift becomes exponential change.
This year-end, we’re raising $100,000 through the Fueling STEM Futures campaign to strengthen long-term programming and advance the major initiatives driving our next phase of strategic growth. The $100,000 goal will be allocated across three major priorities:
Build the Future – The Visions of Science Teen Tech Centre: A state-of-the-art tech innovation hub in partnership with Best Buy, designed in-kind by Turner Fleischer, and only the second of its kind in Canada. We’re 50% to our goal, help us cross the finish line.
Connect the Ecosystem – Invest in integrated systems and tools that elevate how we track participants, measure impact, and scale our work.
Fuel Lifelong Learning – Strengthen academic readiness within our long-term programs to help close critical literacy and numeracy gaps.