RMH

Six-year-old Kaiser Amin has some good advice for the children who will be attending Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Toronto School this year.

“Pay attention to the teachers, ask lots of questions and make friends with the other kids.”

Kaiser attended Grade 1 at the School last year while his three-year-old brother, Rehan, underwent treatment for eye cancer and the family, from Banff, AB, lived at the House for 10 months. 

“School at the House was a major part of our journey,” says Shakil, Kaiser’s dad. It meant Kaiser could stay with the family in Toronto to help Rehan heal. 

While Kaiser started Grade 1 knowing his alphabet, he was proudly reading and writing by the end of the year.

“The school was the right place for his needs,” says his mom, Fauzia. “It was wonderful, and the teachers were exceptional.”

Now that Rehan’s cancer is in remission, the Amins recently moved out of the House and into a home of their own in Toronto. They want to stay close to his doctors here. The brothers are excited about starting school in their new neighbourhood this month. Rehan is going into Junior Kindergarten and Kaiser is starting Grade 2. This time they’ll be going to school together and, Fauzia predicts, walking there hand in hand.  

Staffed by two full-time teachers, RMHC Toronto School ensures children and their siblings can keep up academically when they face a long stay at the House. The school is recognized by the Ministry of Education and funded by generous donations, including foundational support from the Sofina Foundation and the Latifi Family.