Satellite

An organization, and a fund, to prevent addiction in the region of Les Maskoutains

Founded in 1991, with its home base in Saint-Hyacinthe, Satellite is officially recognized in the region of Les Maskoutains for its work in preventing addiction in the community.

The organization got its start thanks to a group of parent volunteers who cared deeply about this important issue. Using their own ideas and readings as a starting point, they organized several programs in primary schools. They subsequently contacted intervenors who specialized in prevention, which led to their group becoming a recognized community organization. Having forged a number of partnerships, and established its credibility as well as its relevance, Satellite now covers the entire territory of Les Maskoutains. As well as working on addiction prevention, the organization also promotes the development of healthy and safe lifestyles among youth in schools, as well as family and community settings.

The Satellite team’s approach is to offer ready-to-use workshops, first for primary school students, about stress, managing emotions, cyberaddiction, etc. Secondary school students are informed about vaping, cannabis use, healthy relationships or the effects of energy drinks. It also offers customized services to community groups.

Adaptation to the pandemic

With the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in school closings, the Satellite team adjusted its service offer. In 2020-2021, new services for those aged 18 to 24 were implemented. Several workshops were held online, and 29 short videos were produced. These capsules, which were a huge hit, were especially useful in enabling Satellite to keep in touch with the youth it serves. It developed a temporary alternative to school visits and conveyed basic information on a variety of subjects. With the addition of these new initiatives, the size of the team tripled.

In 2021, Satellite was supported by the Fonds Josée et Michel Jacques at FGM. It also has its own fund at the Foundation. In 2018, in partnership with FGM, it benefited from the Placement Réussite matching program. It then created this self-designated fund in 2021. By producing returns that are transferred back to Satellite, the fund will sustain the organization’s activities over the long term, and ensure that it will continue to be able to assist young people.

Donate to the Fonds Satellite at FGM