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June 2007 E-news
Experiences at EECOM 2007 in Kananaskis, Alberta
A couple of weeks ago, I was very fortunate to have been offered the opportunity to be a part of the youth delegation at the Trails to Sustainability Conference in Kananaskis, Alberta. At first, I thought it was going to be hard to top the Salt of the Earth Conference [hyperlink to reference on YAC] that I had also gone to last October since it was an amazing experience, but this conference really exceeded my expectations! Upon returning home, it was almost like I had been hit by a bus – I was so mentally drained from all of the activities I had participated in.
One of my favourite parts of the conference was being able to help Jenn Hoffman and Emily Menzies facilitate and organize the Youth Engagement Trail of the conference. This was an entire day where there were about twenty different trails taking place, all exploring different aspects of the environment and environmental education, and each conference delegate to choose a full-day trail to attend. In our youth engagement trail, it was awesome to be able to converse with adults about how to better engage youth in their programs and in the decision making process, so that they feel like their opinions and thoughts are being valued. The feedback that I, personally, received after that day was incredible. Most, if not all, of the adults thought that it was great having “youth experts” on hand to answer their questions and help them problem solve about what they needed to change about their programs and do better next time. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my knowledge and expertise with the adults…and the best part was truly knowing that my presence that day and at the conference as a whole was valued.
Another great part about the conference were the keynote speakers – David Schindler, Karsten Heuer, Stephen Lewis and Hunter Lovins. What I loved about these speakers was this: Each one of their speeches built on the previous one, which made all of their messages all that more powerful. From the keynote speakers, it reaffirmed for me how social and environmental issues are very much interconnected…and in order to be good environmental stewards, we must also be engaged social citizens.
At the conference, I definitely enjoyed being able to network with some incredibly inspiring individuals, I enjoyed being able to take part in the daily sessions and presentations of the youth stream, as well as having the opportunity to learn from educators by hearing their experiences in environmental education. This conference was a great place to meet like-minded youth (which for me is not always the easiest thing to do at my high school) and it was awesome to see the diverse projects that are taking place across the country. This was a fantastic opportunity to share ideas and experiences about the environmental initiatives with which we are all involved. I learned so much from everyone.
I want to say how wonderful it is for youth like myself to attend conferences such as Trails to Sustainability – the best part for me is walking away with that RE-IGNITED, burning fire and passion inside that makes you even more committed to making a difference in your own communities, and in the world at large. I left the conference an incredibly committed, empowered young woman who is ready to be the change that she wishes to see in the world!!! Thank you, Trails to Sustainability, for reaffirming my passion for environmental stewardship!
March 2/3
by Marie-Pier Lemay from the Quebec Youth Steering Committee
For 37 years now, the streets of Montreal come together for a day in May. The 2/3 March is the biggest mass meeting of youth in North America, coming together for international solidarity. Around 15,000 youth march to bring awareness around inequity, youth engagement, and the importance of the little actions we take every day for environmental and sustainable development. Every day we need to see that we are not alone, bringing a fair and equitable world together with our management of natural resources!
The 2/3 Club began in 1970, and the 2/3 March happened that same year. Each year the March has become bigger, with the theme that focuses on how 80% of the world’s population doesn’t have the same chances we do – and we need to change that.
This year, the 2/3 March was on Friday May 11th, with the theme “Changing the world”. It was my third experience at this event and I think it was my favourite one. Youth were more inventive in their projects and the sun was with us for a big part of the day. There were also almost 250 volunteers there to make sure everything was going well.
This year, the 2/3 March celebrated the actions taken by the youth about the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are some goals created by the United Nations member countries in 2000, to eradicate poverty in world before 2015.
Here are the 8 MDGs:
1- Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger
2- Achieve universal primary education
3- Promote gender equality and empower women
4- Reduce child mortality
5- Improve maternal health
6- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases
7- Ensure environmental sustainability
8- Develop a global partnership for development
Through the MDGs, schools can annually participate in helping to create and fund an international development project, and students must use their creativity to find an original way to find funds. It’s a really good idea because people get involved in the project and get their circle of friends and parents aware of the cause they’re working on.
During the March, there is also a recycled art contest. It’s always impressive to see what other youth can do to create their own art! I saw little floats made with old carton boxes, Earth made out of old water bottles, boats made with aluminium cans, awesome costumes made with old curtains, and much more. In short, the creative and “environment friendly” side of youth is incredible and must be encouraged!
I hope to see you at the next 2/3 March – it was a incredible experience that I would encourage anyone to participate in!
Marie-Pier Lemay, 15 years old
Resource Review –
The Guide du Manifestif
By Caroline Fournier from the Quebec Youth Steering Committee
“Pick up my stuff in my bedroom? Are you crazy? I prefer to save my planet!” - Guide du manifestif
\What can we do to save the world? At school, we don’t have the choice to take “beginner, intermediate, or advanced poster maker” courses, or argumentation lesson. To give us a solution, some groups (EVB, CSQ, 2/3 Club and Oxfam Québec) worked together to create a youth engagement guide - the Guide du manifestif (you can download it here - in French!!).
In the 23 pages of the Guide du manifestif, it explains how and why youth can be engaged. This guide gives us some basic guides to setting up information tables and display stands, how to do posters, fund raising, and much more. In brief, there’s everything to show how to work when we want to be engaged!
Moreover, if we want to help create more awareness about environment, solidarity, pacifism and democracy, there are a lot of resources about each of these themes inside the guide. Each section on these subjects give us links to different websites where we can read and learn more about the causes we want to work for.
I’m talking about it as a very serious guide, but it’s really not - everything isn’t written in black and white! The graphics are really nice and interesting, and the best thing about it is that it’s really made for us, for youth.
So, that’s it! This guide is a great resource for all youth, from those that are really engaged to those that are just beginning!
Otesha Bike Trips
On June 27, a team of young cyclists from the award-winning Otesha Project will arrive in Victoria to perform their entertaining and empowering theatrical presentation, addressing how everyday actions can and do change the world.
Where?
The Recyclistas Bike Coop on 25 Crease Ave. in Victoria.
The team of youths will have already traveled over 1200 km, presenting to other young people at schools and community centres along the way.
Would you like to pedal with Otesha? Positions are still open! Check out www.otesha.ca.
The Otesha Project
72 Riverdale Ave.
Ottawa, ON
K1S 1R2
Phone: 613-237-6065
Pinnacle Youth Leadership Program
Outward Bound Canada is an experience like no other. It challenges you to discover your talents, your resources, your capabilities, and your courage. You pick your “classroom” – BC’s Coast Mountains, northern Ontario and Quebec’s forests, lakes and rivers, stunning Clayoquot Sound on the Pacific Ocean or the astounding Bay of Fundy on the Atlantic Ocean, among others. And they offer you the adventure of a lifetime. You’ll look at life differently after going Outward Bound.
The Pinnacle Youth Leadership Program in B.C. is for youth demonstrating leadership in their community. This 10-day mountaineering course on Vancouver Island offers a tremendous opportunity for growth and learning in a team environment, by offering a high level of personal challenge in a group process. Groups will spend the entire course exploring mountain terrain while developing mountaineering, wilderness camping, and leadership skills.
Outward Bound believes in investing in youth and providing service to our communities. They aim to bring together youth from a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds so that participants will learn from the diversity of the group and fine-tune their leadership skills. Developing youth leaders will, in the long run, benefit all our communities. Each participant will develop a Community Service Plan to take home with them to implement what they learned.
This course is open to all youth who are 16-19 years of age and exhibiting leadership in their community. Two courses are offered:
To learn more about the program or to register, and about Outward Bound in general, go to their website at www.outwardbound.ca.
Power of Hope Summer Youth Gatherings
The eight-day Power Of Hope gatherings are for youth 14 to 18 who want to take an active role in creating a positive future and have a great time in the process. Power of Hope believes that as a young person, your voice and energy is needed to help build a world that works for everybody. You have important gifts to offer, and at the Power of Hope you'll discover that you have more skill, talents, and spirit than you ever imagined!
Cost
$480 USD; $550 CAD
Scholarship assistance is available - don't hesitate to ask. Our policy is to turn no one away because of money. We also encourage all participants to find creative ways to raise funds for your Power of Hope experience.
2007 Summer Gathering Schedule
July 7-14 Leavenworth, WA
July 21-28 Leavenworth, WA
July 24-31 Cortes Island, BC
August 4-11 Cortes Island, BC
Aug. 20-27 Samish Island, WA
For more info
Check out the website:
powerofhope.org/programs/summer.htm or email pohvic@powerofhope.org. You can call 250-381-4673 too!
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