Cops and Kids.
Seph Marshall, with a member of the Toronto police, received a computer from Toronto-based Merry Go Round Children’s Foundation.
Photo/COURTESY
Growing up with two brothers, eighth-grader Seph Marshall has often had a hard time getting on the computer to do school work.
That changed when he was selected as the winner of a new computer through the downtown Toronto-based Merry Go Round Children’s Foundation.
Merry Go Round’s Kids, Cops and Computers program pairs financially disadvantaged students up with volunteers from the Toronto Police Service, who teach them the ins and outs of Internet use, web safety and other skills.
Seph was one of several children at Holy Family Catholic School to apply to the program and did not expect to be named one of the winners.
“It was pretty lucky in itself that our school was picked for the program but I thought it was one of those things you enter but never win,” he said.
After being given a new computer, however, he has found it much easier to keep up with the demands of school life. Whereas he would have to compete for computer time with the rest of his family before, he can now do homework whenever he needs.
“I can access it really quickly because it’s in my room and it’s good being able to do work and type when I have something to do instead of having to wait for the computer,” he said.
He also worked received mentorship from Toronto Police and learned to use Microsoft Word and Excel through computer training sessions provided by Everest College.
Merry Go Round’s partnership with the Toronto Police Service paid off, however, more than by simply providing mentorship and positive role models.
“We got to meet police officers and then, this year we had a little awards ceremony with all the kids who got into the Kids, Cops and Computers program and I won a scholarship for $1,000,” Seph said.
The Parkdale resident hopes to pursue a career in sports while studying architecture in university.
Hiba Kesebi of the Merry Go Round Children’s Foundation said the program has gotten some 1,100 computers into the hands of financially disadvantaged Grade 7 students over the past 13 years. She noted that Seph earned his computer through his own hard work and dedication.
“We get submissions and then select children who are high achievers,” she said. “Seph got the scholarship because he did very well in academics.”
While the computers and scholarships are definitely welcome, Kids, Cops and Computers offers far more to selected students.
“The police mentor the kids,” Kesebi said. “They have lunch-and-learn sessions where police teach kids everything from Internet safety to what it’s like living a day in the life of a police officer.”
For more information on the program, visit www.kidscopscomputers.org