Ten youth-led projects benefit the region
By Nelson Daily Editor
From diesel fuel to vegetable oil, some Nelson students took going green one step further and were named one of the top youth-led projects in the Columbia Basin this year.
The Veggie Bus Project ($3,000), created by students from Self Design High, based in Nelson, involved converting a diesel fuelled school bus to a vegetable oil fuelled one. Students will travel and connect with other youth providing a space for conversation and creating an inspiring vehicle for learning.
The project was one of 10 youth projects successful in the recent intake of the Columbia Basin Youth Grants program. Offered by Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), the grants support youth-led projects that directly benefit Basin youth (ages 15 to 29) and involve youth in project development, planning and implementation.
“These projects got approved because young people identified what is important to them in their community and took action,” said CBT YAC member Laura Archer.
Other successful projects include
- Youth in the community of Valemount will be hosting an event similar to the television show ‘The Amazing Race’ ($3,500).
- West Kootenay Youth Peace Summit ($485) (Robson Community School) — Youth will be informed about peace, leadership and team building.
- Consciousness in Consumer Society Workshop ($1,650) (Revelstoke Secondary School) — Youth will learn about the influence of media and how it impacts their lives.
- Thinking sustainably ($3,000) (School District #8, Kootenay Lake) — A three-day workshop on sustainable building and permaculture practices.
- Respectful Relationships ($4,380) (Robson Valley Support Society), a project which will address violence in relationships by helping youth develop emotional intelligence around social justice issues.
- Gender Action Project Theatre ($14,370) (West Kootenay Women’s Association) — An interactive theatre presentation to help youth think of positive ways to improve issues in their lives and their communities.
- Youth Social Action Theatre ($8,330) (Creston and District Community Resource Centre Society) — Interactive plays about youth identified issues.
- The leadership class of Invermere’s David Thompson Secondary School will receive support for two projects. The I Am Beautiful workshop ($1,000) which promotes self-esteem and confidence for grade seven girls as well as assist the girls in making a connection with each other and senior girls before they begin high school and the Breakfast Program ($2,200) which provides breakfast to local middle school students.
While the deadline for the next intake of Columbia Basin Youth Grants is in October 2011, it’s never too early to begin your application.
Residents with project ideas are encouraged to start their applications by contacting Michelle d’Entremont, CBT’s Basin Youth Liaison at cbtyouth@cbt.org well before the deadline.
The Liaison provides support to applicants throughout the process, including discussing project ideas, providing application assistance and giving grant writing workshops. For more information, visit www.scratchonline.ca/grants.
Comments