The next generation of change makers
The Phelps Helps Youth Committee consists of seven members aged 14 to 18 who applied and were chosen for a one-year volunteer leadership role at Phelps Helps. On March 15, Phelps was privileged to bring five of these youth on a two-day trip to Montreal to take part in the 7th Annual Y4Y Youth Forum. This yearly forum is designed to inform, empower, and engage Quebec’s English-speaking youth. Our five teens, accompanied by two of our employees, participated in a full day of sessions which included youth-led panels on Employment, Education, and Civic engagement, as well as a presentation called “English speaking youth: Who we are, in numbers and nuance.” The event also featured presentations by Elections Canada, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, Apathy is Boring, and Institut de Nouveau Monde, and a youth artist exhibit.
Throughout the day, the youth were presented with questions such as: “How do you think that educational institutions can better encourage students with different learning styles?” and “How can we continue valorizing vocational training as a legitimate career pathway?”
After the forum, we asked the five Phelps participants the following questions:
Something I learnt
Forum was….
at the Youth
- How important it is to emphasize and learn about critical thinking at a high school level.
- I didn’t know the English-speaking community was that much of a minority compared to the French.
- The importance of other people’s backgrounds and experiences.
- The importance of immigrant and minority voices (including English speakers).
- How important it is to speak up for change and be involved in real life groups who are advocating for a better world.
The forum inspired me to…
- See outside the box and talk to new people about their experiences.
- Apply to Elections Canada to help run the next polling station in my town.
- Do more research on volunteering and ways I can be more civically engaged to make change for the people that are important to me.
- Help the English community be aware that there are events like the youth forum that represent the English community and are driven to make change.
- Be part of more leadership opportunities and helping the voice of youth be heard.
Aside from the value and empowerment gleaned at the forum, the trip served other functions: Firstly, as a thank you for their dedication on the committee throughout the last year. Secondly, the trip also provided opportunities to try new things such as public transit as they rode the new Réseau express métropolitain (REM) train into the city, navigating downtown Montreal, and taste-testing a plate of fried calamari. And lastly, it also provided the perfect setting for bonding and brainstorming upcoming projects on the docket for the Youth Committee.
Returning home, the Phelps Helps Youth Committee members carry with them valuable insights and a determination to make a positive impact in their communities and schools.
Phelps Helps is a community-led non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, teens and young adults in Stanstead, Quebec and its surrounding areas. Through a range of free, tailored programs and initiatives, Phelps Helps supports educational achievement, careers, youth development and more. Its focus on collaboration and community engagement ensures lasting, positive change for a brighter future. For more information or to volunteer, please email us at info@phelpshelps.ca, visit our website www.phelpshelps.ca or call us on 819-704-0799.