YMCA
For rural youth, finding a safe space to belong isn't always easy. Since receiving their first United Way grant in 2009, a United Way-funded youth agency has been working to change that — filling a much-needed gap in services for pre-teens and teens in their community.
The agency opened a youth centre in 2012, running multiple programs out of it in the 10+ years since then. One such offering is a Youth Leader program, which provides youth with a safe space where young people can play games, socialize and make friends, as well as build skills through volunteering, learning to cook, budgeting and other workshops. Youth leaders are given responsibility and ownership for the success of the other programs by involving them in decision making.
One parent has felt the impact on their child’s life. Their 12-year-old is autistic and joined the program as a youth leader. He’s able to employ coping skills he’d learned elsewhere in real-life situations.
The impact is great. He speaks more, talks in social situations, and can express his feelings and offer his thoughts now. This time last year, he couldn’t do that.
Kim Whitman-Mansfield, the program director, says the goal of the program is prevention by providing a safe, judgement-free space for local kids – recognising that world events have a negative impact resulting in increased mental health challenges, substance abuse and self-harm. “We’ve never had any destruction or fights, never had to call the police. We treat youth with equity and empathy, empowering them to take responsibility for their actions.”
Thanks to the generous support of United Way donors like you, this program has helped young people in Lunenburg County trade isolation for inspiration.
