A
Community Youth Project – Drop In Centre
Riverton & District Friendship Centre
Project Summary
The Community Youth Project – Drop-In Centre will
use the existing Youth Drop-In Centre and weight room facility at
the Riverton and District Friendship Centre Inc. to provide a platform
for youth initiatives that will address the shortage of youth opportunities
in the Riverton and District area. By providing a varied range of
recreation, sports, cultural and educational programs, the Drop-In
Centre will create a fun environment where youth can establish trusting
relationships. A youth can come on a casual basis, relate to each
other and learn. The staff at the centre will use initiative to
introduce the youth to personal development workshops and informal
mentorship. Where specific expertise is required, outside agencies
will be contacted to provide these services.
Main
Component of Project
One
of the Drop-In Centre’s main components is Social Activities.
The Drop-In has long hours for our youth to access the centre, especially
on non-school nights until 11:00 p.m. The time spent at the Drop-In
have the youth participating in playing pool, watching movies, playing
Guitar Hero, playing air hockey, playing sports at the local gym,
and access to high speed internet on ten computers. The youth participate
in Gym/Sport Nights playing a variety of competitive sports such
as floor hockey. The youth actively participate in Guitar Hero,
Pool, and Air Hockey tournaments. The youth also enjoy their movie
nights on the big screen television. The youth also enjoy the monthly
events that take them out of the community to enjoy a range of activities
from watching a Manitoba Moose game, playing laser tag, and bowling
to mention a few activities.
Project Activities
Cultural
Activities: This project plans a regular scheduled drum
group bi-weekly. The project as well plans a regular scheduled Traditional
art class from drawing too beadwork with a guest teacher every fiscal
quarter.
Social and Health Programs: This project plans
to partner with the local Health Nurse to create a monthly workshop
on various topics such as Diabetes, Obesity and Self-care. Every
Fiscal Quarter a workshop will be planned with outside sources such
as Teen Touch, around various issues such as sexual education and
violence and crime prevention. A weekly healthy supper program will
be planned teaching youth to prepare and cook nutritious meals.
Youth Leadership: Youth leadership is the driving
force behind the project activities and programs. Youth council
meeting held informal and formally are an important role f representation
of the youth. Training in mentorship and leadership will be planned
in various training workshop every fiscal quarter.
Social Activities: The project hosts a Drop-in
for the youth on a daily basis with a variety of weekly programs
such as Movie night, Air hockey/Guitar hero tournament, and Gym/sport
night. The youth workers and youth council plan various monthly
social events as well.
Community Involvement: The youth at the Riverton
Drop-In is involved with community events and plan to be involved
with planning and facilitating Aboriginal Day, Canada Day, Annual
Northern Dinner, Easter Pancake Breakfast, Moonlight Madness, Family
Fall Festival, Halloween Bash and the Winter Festival. The youth
volunteers and staff facilitate games and activities such as dances,
parties for the youth at these events.
Anticipated
Results and Outcomes
To
improve the economic, social and personal prospects of urban Aboriginal
youth.
To
provide accessible, Aboriginal community-based, culturally relevant
and supportive programs, access to a facility, services and professional
and peer counselling, to address a wide range of Aboriginal youth
issues.
To
support cooperative Aboriginal community based initiatives in addressing
the needs of urban Aboriginal youth.
To
enhance the capacity of Aboriginal youth to lead and manage the
project.
|
|
