Our Work
To generate sustainable change for children and youth by providing resources that will make a significant impact on their lives.
The Shania Twain Foundation is an organization founded by Shania in effort to relieve the economic, social and personal sufferings of children, youth and their families that she herself experienced as a child.
Food Insecurity
As a child, I often went to school without having had breakfast and often without a lunch. My hunger caused a lack of energy, enthusiasm, and motivation to interact with others.
– Shania Twain
Food stability is the cornerstone in a child’s successful physical and mental functions and affects the foundational elements of learning: concentration, memory, mood, and motor skills. Providing the basic necessities for kids to feel secure and safe and cared for through food stability has shown us that if we can provide love in this way, the kids not only respond in their daily academic lives, but thrive – thrive to show the same care and love to others that they themselves have been shown in this way.
Youth Empowerment
My average classmate had cleaner clothes, freshly washed and brushed hair, healthy teeth, appropriate lunches, aiding in their own self-assuredness and overall better health than disadvantaged students. I know that in my youth I would have benefited from just one person in my life who could have guided me through those challenging times.
– Shania Twain
Empowerment is a complicated word to many and has been overused in our culture’s vernacular – almost losing it’s meaning, but in our work with kids, we see the light that shines through them when they are shown the basics of human kindness: compassion, empathy, love, guidance, belief. When kids feel “seen”, the light shines brightly in their eyes and they see the world around them through a different lens. THAT is why human kindness is critical for these kids to experience.
Mental Health
I would often stay home from school to avoid discomfort. Rather than asking my parents to sign a form explaining my absenteeism, or more awkwardly ask them to lie about my absenteeism to avoid social service interventions, I would simply forge notes to maintain privacy for my family. I felt an enormous amount of stress taking the solution into my own hands. It's incredibly humiliating to be faced with the exposure of dysfunction in the family home; some children go to great lengths to coverup their situation and, unfortunately, succeed.
– Shania Twain
When children and youth are in a state of “critical” constantly, their psyche is at risk because they are in a place of just trying to survive. Depression, anger, bullying, isolating are all cries for help and through guidance, understanding, care and attention we strive to provide the services they need to not only survive, but to thrive and to develop a positive self image – regardless of their circumstances.