YOUTH PROGRAM - The youth program is currently suspended pending funding
The diverse activities in the Youth Program focus around education, culture and recreation. It serves Inuit youth between the ages of 10-25. The various programs are designed to promote Inuit culture and language; educate youth on life skills; promote exercise and to provide alternatives to negative environments.
The Youth Program consults with the youth; building a strong connection and an awareness of their specific needs. It provides valuable services that are well attended. Constant contact with Inuit youth has opened more opportunity for referrals to the rest of Tungasuvvingat Inuit.
Activities that take place through the Youth Program:
Cultural Development
The CCAY project will focus on cultural teachings and retention in three main areas through group outings and activities.
- Cultural arts and crafts workshops to be led by elders and/or skilled community members in the areas of sewing, beading, carving, drawing/sketching and drum making.
- Cultural Performance workshops to be led by elders and/or skilled community members in the areas of Throat singing, Drum dancing, and Story telling.
- Inuktitut Lessons to be led by elders and/or skilled community members. Inuit youth are very susceptible to losing their language in an urban setting dominated by the English language. TI has developed an interactive CD teaching tool for Inuktitut and it will be part of the Language lessons.
Life Skills & Personal Development
The CCAY project will focus on improving the life skills and addressing personal development of Inuit Youth in the following manner:
The Youth Liaison & Support Worker will provide counselling to youth in both group and individual formats on the topics of:
- Addictions awareness
- Life skills related to living in an Urban setting
- Employment / training & education opportunities
- Personal Development through use of computer lab and lessons offered on various software programs.
Leadership Development
The Overall impact of the CCAY activities will lead to enhanced self-esteem and increased self-confidence in the Youth. This is achieved through positive reinforcement of personal and cultural values inherent in the Inuit specific workshops and activities that will be delivered.
The Youth program partners with other TI programs and links to external service providers in order to deliver counselling and workshops on leadership skills development. By providing skills development activities infused with Inuit culture, we are creating the groundwork for Inuit Youth to develop into leaders within their communities, the country and the world.
Youth programming is made possible by funding from Canadian Heritage.
