Empower Kids Initiative gives children ages 7 to 16 the hands-on training, creative confidence, and real-world skills they need to thrive, in the kitchen, in the classroom, and in life beyond both.
At Empower Kids Initiative, we believe that every child deserves the chance to discover what they are truly capable of. We are a not-for-profit organisation based in Ottawa, Canada, built around a simple conviction, that practical skills, learned early and learned well, have the power to change the entire direction of a young person's life.
Through hands-on training in baking, cooking, sewing, crafts, hair, and makeup, we create a safe and nurturing environment where children are not just taught, but genuinely encouraged to grow, to experiment, and to take real pride in what they are able to create with their own hands.
Every session is built around the belief that a child who learns to create something learns, at the same time, that they are capable of far more than they imagined.
We meet children exactly where they are and walk with them at their own pace, with patience and encouragement, toward who they are becoming.
Creativity is not a talent reserved for a few, but a skill that can be developed in any child who is given the right space and the right support to explore it.
Our programs are designed for children between the ages of 7 and 16, combining hands-on learning, creative exploration, and real-world application in every single session.
From threading a needle to putting together their very first garment, children learn the fundamentals of sewing and basic design, developing patience, precision, and a genuine sense of personal style along the way.
Measuring, mixing, and creating from scratch, children discover the science and joy behind what goes into the oven, while quietly building focus, numeracy, and the deep satisfaction of making something real.
We teach children to prepare actual meals with growing confidence and care. From basic knife skills to understanding a recipe, our cooking sessions build the kind of independence and healthy habits that will follow a child well into adulthood.
Children explore the craft of hair styling and care, developing fine motor skills, creative expression, and a quiet appreciation for personal grooming as a form of self-respect and identity.
Through a wide variety of hands-on projects, children develop artistic thinking, problem-solving instincts, and the kind of confidence that only comes from standing back and looking at something you have genuinely made yourself.
Our makeup sessions introduce children to self-care and artistic expression in a thoughtful, age-appropriate environment, nurturing creativity, attention to detail, and a healthy relationship with personal presentation.
Parents who enrol their children with us are looking for something beyond an after-school activity. They are looking for a place where their child is genuinely seen, challenged, and supported.
Every programme runs in a supervised, child-friendly setting where the safety and wellbeing of each child comes before everything else. Parents leave knowing their child is in good hands.
Children leave our sessions with abilities they can actually use, skills they can demonstrate, share, and continue building on long after the programme ends. This is not a certificate course. It is a genuine foundation.
Our sessions are thoughtfully structured for different age groups, ensuring that every child is engaged at the right level, appropriately challenged, never overwhelmed, and always encouraged to go further.
A look at the energy, creativity, and joy that fills every Empower Kids Initiative session.
Alongside our regular programmes we run one-off events throughout the year. Details are confirmed here first, so this is the best place to check what is next.
Helping children start the school year with the tools they need to learn, grow and succeed, with school supplies, learning support and brighter futures. Run together with Refuge Basket, Immigrant At Large Canada, NanaCare Initiative and Hearts & Hands of Hope.
Eligibility: a document showing proof of low income status.
A few of the questions we hear most often from families considering EKI. If yours is not answered here, we are only ever an email or a phone call away.
Our programmes are open to children between the ages of 7 and 16. Sessions are structured by age group, so younger children and teenagers are each engaged at a level that suits them, appropriately challenged, and never overwhelmed.
We currently run six hands-on programmes: sewing and designing, baking, cooking, hair making, crafts, and makeup. Every one of them is taught practically, so children leave each session having genuinely made something with their own hands.
None at all. Every programme begins with the fundamentals, and we meet each child exactly where they are. Complete beginners are very welcome.
Yes. Every programme runs in a supervised, child-friendly setting, and the safety and wellbeing of each child comes before everything else we do.
Complete the registration form on this site with your child’s details and the programme you have in mind. A member of our team will then be in touch within 2 to 3 business days to confirm your place and walk you through everything you need to know.
We are based in Ottawa, Canada. Venue details for a specific programme are confirmed with you directly once we have received your registration, and do get in touch beforehand if you would like to know more.
Empower Kids Initiative is a not-for-profit organisation, and fees differ from one programme to the next. Please contact us at Empowerkidsinitiatives@gmail.com or +1 (437) 991-6462 for current pricing on the programme you are interested in.
Every workshop, every set of materials, and every child we are able to welcome through our doors is made possible by organisations and individuals who choose to invest in young people. We are grateful to each of them.
Whether through funding, materials, venue space, or your own time and expertise, there are many ways to partner with EKI, and every one of them puts skills into a child’s hands.
Whether you have questions about a specific programme, need help with the registration process, or simply want to know more about what we do at EKI, our team is always happy to help.
Empowerkidsinitiatives@gmail.com
Phone
+1 (437) 991-6462
Alternate
+1 (438) 880-7122
Location
Ottawa, Canada