Safety Skills Youth Training

The Cause

The YWCA NWT is requesting funds to provide youth (either already enrolled in our GirlSpace or Dudes Club programs or other youth ages 9-18) with safety skill building courses including boat safety (canoe or kayak), wilderness training and first aid. These course would mainly take place in the summer with some indoor components in the fall and winter.

The skills obtained in these courses will enrich the lives of these youth and empower them to make safe choices in their daily lives. As an organization already providing programming to youth in the community, the YWCA NWT is well equipped to engage this age group and help foster young leaders. The funding will be used for new programming that is not currently being provided.

About the YWCA NWT:

The YWCA NWT offers a variety of services to women, girls and families in NWT communities. Safe affordable housing is a key component of our mandate, along with shelter from family violence, afterschool care and empowerment programs. Our mission is to build safe and equitable communities where women, girls and families can realize their full potential.

YWCA GirlSpace fills the need for girl-only extra-curricular community programs, offering girls the opportunity to increase their awareness about violence and its root causes, while exploring self, personal achievements, and building on positive self esteem. By addressing key social issues that young women face, GirlSpace programming empowers young women to become capable of making informed, healthy choices in their lives, while fostering their leadership potential.

Dudes Club focuses on creating strong and resilient young leaders by creating a safe place for boys to explore their passions and gifts. Dudes Club meets once a week for fun activities related to healthy relationships and habits, bullying, etc. Dudes Club offers a safe place to ask questions.

Who Will it Benefit?

This programming will directly impact the young participants by providing them with useful skills. These skills can then cause a ripple effect throughout their peer groups and in their communities. By empowering young people with the knowledge of first aid, wilderness training, or boat safety, they in-turn can help to influence and guide their peers.

This programming, with the help of funding from Field Law, will help to inspire young people to be proactive and thoughtful when it comes to their behaviours and the activities they engage in. They will learn to assess risks, know what to do and take charge when something does go wrong, and actively help in emergency situations.