The Connie and Robert Foundation - Horizons program, aims to inspire youth experiencing psychological hardships, to motivate them to work effortfully in their psychotherapy, and celebrate their psychological growth with a trip of a lifetime. While there are many charitable organizations in Québec that encourage young adolescents that have dealt with physical illness, there is no equivalent for adolescents experiencing challenging mental health problems. The Horizons program seeks to bridge this gap and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues which continues to exist in our society.
The Horizons program offers selected participants who have committed to their psychological treatment during adolescence, shown sustained effort and determination to make long lasting life changes and are now between the ages of 21 to 25, the opportunity to travel to another country for a 7-day organized tour. Participants must be referred by their treating psychologist and are selected by an independent committee of psychologists.
It takes a village to raise a child and the Horizons program believes encouraging youth who have taken the steps toward psychological change is paramount to a better life and healthier society.
Upcoming Trip
Our 2025 trip will be to France! Alyra Expeditions has organized the itinerary and will provide local guides throughout the trip.
An independent selection committee of five psychologists will choose five youth yearly based on pre-established criteria. Preference will be given to those who have several psychosocial risk factors, who represent more vulnerable populations, and who have not had the opportunity nor the means to travel. This gift will be a celebration of their psychological journey and an enriching life experience creating long lasting memories.
Our Goals
- To celebrate psychotherapeutic journeys.
- To empower youths to feel accomplished by their psychotherapeutic gains.
- To encourage connection with peers and personal growth through shared experiences during and following the trip.
- To learn about new cultures.
- To raise public awareness of the importance of psychotherapy as treatment of psychological difficulties.
Testimonials
Facebook message from Florence K
More than ever, young people are facing major challenges, and the numbers show just how much the prevalence of psychological problems during adolescence has increased in recent years.
As the mother of a teenager who has experienced anxiety-related problems, I know just how much the distress experienced by these young people can affect not only their psychological and physical well-being, their studies, their social life, but also their development.
These problems are not a condemnation, and one of the avenues of recovery that we encourage for our young people is undoubtedly psychotherapy. However, this requires a certain amount of effort, commitment and openness to change - in short, consistent work.
That's why The Connie and Robert Foundation, a non-profit organization, has set up the Horizons program, to recognize the work of young people who have lived with psychological problems during their adolescence (ages 12-19), who have invested in psychotherapy to bring about significant changes in their lives, and who are now between the ages of 21 and 25.
Through this program, selected candidates will be offered a free 7-day group trip abroad.
One of the aims of the Horizons program is to highlight the benefits of psychotherapy. Two groups of young people, referred by their psychologist, have already had the chance to take part in the program and travel to Italy (2022) and Spain (2023). It's been a real success, and participants have reported many benefits! For example, in addition to discovering a new culture, the young people have forged lifelong friendships! Please visit their website, by clicking on the link below, to read their testimonials and view a short video of their trip.
https://connierobertfoundation.org/fr/
The next trip will take place in June 2024, in Croatia. Alyra Expeditions will help organize the itinerary and provide local tour guides throughout the trip. The foundation's founders will join the trip, all at their own expense. Young people must be referred by their treating psychologist.
If you or your child are interested in this program, your psychologist (or your child's psychologist) is invited to submit an application. To do so, a short REGISTRATION form must be completed by the psychologist on the website. You can also read testimonials from psychologists describing the easy referral process. Candidates are selected by an independent committee of psychologists.
If you have any questions, you can contact the foundation directly on Facebook at @conniescuccimarri or on instagram @connierobertfoundation or on the website in the Contact section.
Please join us in supporting this cause for the youth of Québec. This gift will celebrate their psychological journey and provide them with enriching life experiences.
Florence & Alice (my daughter)