Helping kidb pa&ticipate
“Children of today are the leaders of tomorrow” is a quote from the honourable Nelson Mandela. To foster strong and safe communities, we must support our municipality’s youth so that they may grow up to become exemplary citizens. As Mandela said, our youth are our future.
The Positive Recreation Opportunities for Kids (PRO Kids) initiative does wonders to ensure that all kids, no matter their families’ financial limitations, are able to participate in positive and meaningful recreational programs of their choosing. A unique community initiative that was developed by the City of Thunder Bay in Ontario, PRO Kids is now implemented in many communities across Canada, including in our very own municipality.
PRO Kids provides financial assistance to children and youth from the municipality who are not able to participate in sport, recreation or cultural activities due to a lack of funds. This program strives to remove financial barriers to ensure every child and youth has an opportunity to participate in recreational activities rather than watch from the sidelines.
From art classes to ski lessons, PRO Kids provides financial assistance for a great variety of local recreational programs. Placing children and youth in activities through the PRO Kids program doesn’t only affect these children, it also positively affects their families and friends and the community at large. Children enrolled in extracurricular programs feel a sense of belonging and community, have an increase in selfesteem, and have the chance to live a healthy, active life.
In the last two years alone, more than 250 youth from our municipality were able to participate in the program of their choosing thanks to the PRO Kids program. This initiative changes the lives of the children who otherwise may not have been able to participate in recreation programs. It is vital that we provide support to PRO Kids and other similar programs as they enhance the lives of all children in our communities.
There are countless benefits to a community when children get involved in recreation. From helping kids develop friendships and social networks to lowering rates of physical and mental illness, PRO Kids gives every child a chance to play and grow alongside their peers. If you, or someone you know is experiencing financial limitations and is seeking assistance to enroll their child in a recognized recreation program, or you’d like to donate to PRO Kids, we encourage you to reach out to our PRO Kids Program Coordinator at (902) 541-1335.
Carolyn Bolivar-getson is the mayor of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.
She writes a monthly column, which appears in the South Shore Breaker, and can be reached at mayor@modl.ca