PAHO
Over 500 young people between the ages of 14 and 25 from across the country were consulted and worked to develop a youth friendly version of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) integrated strategy. These documents are being distributed across the member states of PAHO.
National Child Day Theme
439 youth between the ages of 14 and 18 from across the country were consulted through online surveys and 14 focus groups and discussions held in nine communities. Two partner organizations also participated by hosting their own discussion groups. The consultation yielded a number of suggestions for topics that the federal government could focus on for this year’s National Child Day (November 20th.)
National Child Day Poster Contest
From the National Child Day Theme work, YDM got a chance to help the federal government select pictures to be used in the National Child Day Poster Campaign.
Approximately 150 youth from across the country were consulted and the group’s suggestions can be seen throughout Canada.
Click here to see the National Child Day Poster for 2008!
A World Fit For Children +5 Special Session
Ashley Teo was one of the two YDM delegates who attended the World Fit for Children conference at the United Nations in New York in December 2007. She stressed the lack of respect young people were treated with at the event and the need for a more youth friendly process. Based on her experience, in August of 2008 Ashley and Joseph, the second YDM member, had the opportunity to share their experiences and recommendations to the Canadian federal government on how to better engage youth at such events.
Click here to see the report of recommendations that came out of this experience for Ashley and Joseph!Resiliency: The Learning Partnership
What do young people think about resiliency and The Learning Partnership's definition? This was the question asked of the YDM in the summer and fall of 2008. Led by YDM members, youth conducted an online survey and five discussion groups in different communities allowing their peers to share their thoughts on the subject. YDM members reviewed notes and results and prepared presentations with key messages. Below is YDM member, Ronza’s, experience.
“The National Dialogue on Resilience in Youth was held in Winnipeg between November 17th and the 19th, hosted by The Learning Partnership. Two youth, Desmond and Marilyn from Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan and myself [Ronza from Toronto] flew in to speak on a youth panel to present survey results taken from youth discussions. We were asked questions by our facilitator, Maria LeRose as well as the audience who were extremely keen on knowing anything they could from our experiences. The adults selected to speak were informed and left me even more encouraged to spread this message along.”
Ontario Poverty Consultations
Recently the Ministry of Children and Youth Services wanted to understand better the issues that surround poverty in Ontario. They worked with the Young Decision Makers network to connect with youth from around the province, and ask them what they know and think about poverty today. We met with more than 110 youth between the ages of 10 and 24 from cities and towns in both northern and southern Ontario. These youth helped us show the Ministry what some of the current attitudes around poverty are, and developed a number of key areas for action that youth think government should focus on when they develop their strategies for addressing poverty in the coming years. These ideas helped influence a new strategy released by the Government of Ontario that can be found at http://www.growingstronger.ca/.
Ontario Youth-In-Care Consultations
The Ministry of Children and Youth Services asked us to tap into our Young Decision Makers network to work with youth living in and from care across Ontario, (youth living in group homes, treatment centres, foster homes, living independently with government support). We held five discussion groups across the province and worked with these youth to come up with concrete ideas to help youth transition out of care. A final report based on the young peoples input was written and submitted to the government.
Road to Rio (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and the Third World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents - Rio de Janeiro
In October and November of 2008, members of the Young Decision Makers network, representing groups from across Canada participated in two global events. The first was held in Winnipeg and was a discussion on the theme of Global Corporate Social Responsibility against the sexual eploitation of children and adolescents. Here four youth from a national aboriginal women's association met with three youth from the YDM network to hash out what corporate social responsibility really means, and made some concrete recommendations that were taken to the Third World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents in November. The Congress was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was host to more than 300 youth from around the world, and more than 2500 adults from organizations and governments working to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and youth globally. Three Canadian youth (one of whom was at the meeting in Winnipeg) participated in the Congress, and met with four young women from the same aboriginal women's association who were participating as well.
National Child Day 2009 Poster
This year we were, once againasked by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to gather some feedback/create materials for the National Child Day (NCD) celebration this November. We held three Focus Testing sessions with young people between the ages of 7 and 18. The feedback these youth gave about the NCD materials was incorporated by the PHAC, and new materials have been drafted as a result. The voice of youth prevails! Thanks to everyone who participated.
