Youthspeak

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At the end of the 06-07 school year, we asked our Youth Team members to jot down their thoughts asking them:

What is different about the you that you are, now that you have co-facilitated the R+R curriculum to your classmates.

This is how they answered:

“Hello, I’m Andrew. I’m in grade 11 and this is my first year on the R+R Youth team. Due to my experiences on the team I have found that my views on life have become more open and calm during confrontation, and I also am more self-aware. I enjoyed getting to know my comrades and facilitating with the younger generations. It allowed me to learn the distinctions between the ages. This was valuable experience3 that has taught me empathy and compassion for my fellow humans.”

 

 

 

“My name is Steve Dawson; I have been on the Youth Team for almost a year now. Being part of the SWOVA Youth Team has improved me ethically and has improved my empathy skills. The weekly meetings were intense and thought provoking. Working with younger grades on topics such as racism or violence was challenging but very rewarding. The SWOVA youth team has been a great part of my life. I hope it continues for years to come!”

 

 

 

“Hey…my name’s Emily Bishop. I’m in grade 10 and have been on the Youth Team for a year now. Going into the classrooms has built my people skills and I’m more comfortable with public speaking.”

 

 

 

 

 

“Hi, my name is Cassandra Storey. I’m in grade 12 and I’m finishing up my 2nd year on the Youth Team. I’ve gone into grade 7-10 classrooms with the R+R program. My experiences have improved my people skills and I’ve learned facilitation skills which have helped me to spark conversations and feel more comfortable in the classrooms. As well as helping my skills, I enjoy being on the youth team because it helps put out an important message to youth about all types of respectful relationships.”

 

 

 

“How’s it goin’? My name is Mat and I have been on the youth team for 2 years, and it was interesting to see the different thought patterns of the different grade levels. When I think of who values from this work I would say it benefits everyone involved because the people we teach get a feeling of how a relationship should look so they can stay away from the bad and [they] are able to take that knowledge and help other people out and have amazing relationships for the rest of their lives.”

 

 

 

 

SD#64 (Gulf Islands B.C.) YOUTH TEAM

We asked our Youth Team members, “What does being a Youth Team member mean to you?”

Cassandra Storey, age 17, grade 12
“Because the Youth Team are high school students, middle school students generally look up to us and are more willing to talk about issues when we join the [adult] Facilitators in the classroom. Going into classrooms is a rewarding experience because you know you are influencing youth in a positive way.”

Kristi Lee, age 16, grade 11
“I love being on the SWOVA Youth Team. Whenever we go into a class whether it be grade 7, 8, 9, or 10 I always feel so influential. I feel like we, as today’s youth have a huge impact on the world and the people around us.”

Natalya Alonso, age 16, grade 11
“As a SWOVA Youth member I love making a difference in the community. I like feeling like I have the power to help others and to (however subtly) change people’s lives for the better. Bing in SWOVA lets me address issues at hand.”

Mat Ripley, age 16, grade 11
“My favorite stuff; Snowboarding, friends, music, chillin’. Being a Youth Facilitator is an important role because the skills and knowledge that is learned is, and needs to be used in everyday relationships and during every important and life changing experience!”

Danica Lundy, age 15, grade 10
“Facilitating is one of those things like art and swimming that come so fluently to me. I thoroughly enjoy the experience of influencing and inspiring, but being influenced and inspired myself is what this group is truly all about.”

Steve Dawsom, age 16, grade11
“As a student I believe that facilitation is becoming more and more necessary for younger grades. I am particularly driven to help fight against sexual abuse. Salt Spring may be a small community, but we must do our part to fight violence and abuse.”

Emily Bishop, age 15, grade 10
“This is my first year on the R+R Youth Team and I joined because I want to try and make a difference in our community and eventually the world. I like going into the classrooms and talking to the students because I know that they listen to us and we can influence them in a positive way.”

Hannah Garvie-Ransen, age 16, grade 11
“I think that this is a period in our lives when we are growing so much and have so much to teach and share. I like the challenges I face in the classroom and sometimes feel that I’m learning as much about myself from them as they hopefully are from me.”

Donna Huang, age 16, grade 11
“Being on the youth team means a lot for me as an international student who comes from Taiwan. I am really happy to have the chance to make a difference in this world.”