Supporting Youth Engagement
Youth in Ontario are getting a chance to develop new skills through a project focused on strengthening youth leadership in rural communities. Supported by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, this three-year project builds on the initiatives of Play Works, the Ontario Partnership for Active and Engaged Youth.
The project includes training and resources aimed at removing barriers for youth in rural communities across Ontario. Components include:
| • | Supporting the creation of 15 youth advisory councils |
| • | Updating the criteria for the Youth Friendly Community Recognition Program (YFC( |
| • | Creating an online application for YFC |
| • | Develop and deliver "Connecting with Youth - the Rural Way" workshops |
For more information, contact PRO staff at pro@prontario.org
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Play Works gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation |
Good Practices from Youth Friendly Communities
There are a number of good practices that have been sourced from the documentation submitted by communities that have applied to be recognized as youth friendly. These good practices are a great resource for communities that want to develop, expand or enhance their work with youth. In 2017, the first of our webinar series on the good practices of YFC's took place, made possible through a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Watch the webinar below if you are interested in learning about the unique ways communities are servicing 13-19 year olds.
Developing Effective Youth Advisory Councils
PRO is passionate about helping youth connect with their communities and develop to their full potential. Through the Youth Engagement Project, we organized a webinar on how to act as an effective advisor to Youth Advisory Councils. The webinar, recorded in May 2019, features tips for advisors, including how to get stuff done, the Positive Youth Development Approach, Council recruitment strategies, and more. Watch it here:
What it Takes to be an Adult Advisor: A Youth Perspective
In 2018, PRO partnered with Wilmot's Youth Action Council to present a webinar on what youth look for in their adult Council advisors. The youth of the WYAC share tips on how to set meeting expectations, emphasize the importance of letting Council members learn from their mistakes, and how to effectively guide youth through decision making and the challenges that are sure to arise. The resulting video is a great resource for YAC advisors, or anyone who wants to learn more about helping youth grow develop their leadership potential.