Located in Calgary, The KidsPlay Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on keeping youth away from violent lifestyles, focused on empowering young people and building safer communities. We spoke with Lovedeep Singh, HR coordinator, to learn more about the organization’s impact and his personal journey in involvement within this supportive community.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
KidsPlay Foundation is a non-profit charity organization focused on keeping youth away from the lifestyle of gangs, drugs, and violence through FREE sports, education, and mentorship programs. We provide young people with a sense of belonging and direction, helping them build a better future and staying away from negative influences. KidsPlay Foundation operates throughout Canada in BC, Alberta, and Ontario. We also operate internationally, with groups in Colombia, Punjab India, Bangladesh, and Uganda.
What problem does it aim to solve?
We aim to prevent youth involvement in criminal activity by offering them positive alternatives and strong community support systems. Our programs are designed to empower youth, promote inclusion, and break the cycle of violence and marginalization. We aim to solve these problems by having powerful mentors and leaders for the youth. Mentors include business professionals, law enforcement officers, and professional athletes.
When did you start/join it?
I joined KidsPlay Calgary in October 2021.
What made you want to get involved?
As a first-generation Canadian pursuing an education in Criminal Justice, I understand how community programs can steer youth toward positive outcomes and away from trouble. I wanted to be part of a grassroots initiative that supports young people—especially those from vulnerable or underrepresented communities—before they fall through the cracks. I am also an athlete, so being able to get involved in the community and teaching youth sports such as ball hockey and basketball has been very rewarding, as I grew up playing these sports.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I joined back in 2021, the Calgary chapter was still gaining traction. Awareness was limited, and most of our efforts involved building partnerships, recruiting volunteers, and hosting small-scale events to engage youth and build a name for ourselves in Calgary and surrounding areas.
How has it changed since?
Since then, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in community engagement and support. More youth are attending our events, and we’ve built relationships with schools, professional sports teams, law enforcement agencies and community leaders. Our team has grown in quantity, passion and impact. We’re gaining recognition and momentum in Calgary. We have made it a priority to create a safe and fair environment for female athletes to play sports. Our most recent success was at the inaugural Alberta Sikh Games Basketball Tournament, where our women’s placed 3rd and youth girls won the championship. I had the opportunity to coach both female teams at this tournament.
What more needs to be done?
We still need greater community awareness, consistent funding, and more volunteers to scale up our programs and reach even more youth. If you would like to help us with funding so we can continue to organize free sports and educational programs to keep youth away from trouble, please contact calgary@kidsplayfoundation.com
How can our readers help?
Readers can support us by following our social media pages, donating, or simply spreading the word about our work. Even attending an event or sharing our message can make a huge difference.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | Facebook | Website | LinkedIn
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
One local organization I deeply admire is SAFE CANADA. They are dedicated to raising awareness and supporting the mental health and well-being of first responders. Recently, they partnered up with A&W and started the “HEROE(s) Brew”, an initiative that offers free coffee to all uniformed RCMP, Police, Fire, and EMS personnel at all A&W locations across Alberta.
