Youth Community Development

Youth are sitting and laughing

We believe in the power and potential of youth to develop and implement their own solutions to community challenges. Our mission is to support youth to create positive change. We do this by providing skill development (workshops, engagements) and capacity building (working directly with you to make things happen!).

Supports & Programs: 

Youth Community Developer

The Youth Community Developer is responsible for the creation and implementation of the Municipal Youth Services Plan, roll out of Multi-Service Youth Centre’s, supporting the Youth Advisory Committee and regional youth engagement projects.

Work with the Youth Community Developer to:

Help connect young people to services & supports Help young people navigate municipal government 

 

For information, please contact Becca Bishop, Youth Community Developer. Becca can be reached at youth@halifax.ca, 902.233.8129 or DM on Instagram @hfxnextgen

  • Help youth initiate change in their communities (see workbook below!)
  • Help you build networks and connect with youth in your community
  • Provide guidance to support your youth engagement efforts
  • Design and deliver training to strengthen your youth engagement efforts
  • Help consult and engage youth in your projects

    For information, please contact Becca Bishop, Youth Community Developer. Becca can be reached at youth@halifax.ca, 902.233.8129 or DM on Instagram @hfxnextgen

 

How to Initiate Change Workbook

We believe in the power and potential of youth to develop and implement their own solutions to community challenges. Our mission is to support youth to create positive change. We do this by providing skill development and capacity building.  Build your skills to create change by:

Downloading the How to Initiate Change workbook here (PDF)

This booklet is intended to help you come up with a way to support your community. It is our hope that these four activities will generate ideas to help guide you as you create a plan.

Here are some ways youth can contribute to their community:
• Organize a community clean up
• Collect food, clothes, toys or care items and deliver to shelters
• Hold an event to raise money for a cause
• Educate and share information on a topic
you are passionate about
• Get involved in your local election by encouraging young people to vote
• Compile messages of support for youth experiencing mental illness
• Host a community dinner
• Start a community garden

This is a planning document and the actions suggested in the document are intended for future use when public health directives have changed. During your planning process, please follow public health guidelines.

 

A group of youth smiling for the camera

The Youth Section of Parks and Recreation will prepare a cohort of up to 8 youth, between the ages of 16-18 from across HRM to initiate change in a community they have a meaningful connection with.

During this 16-week program, participants will receive training, mentorship, an initial honorarium for project startup costs and support applying for further funding.

As a cohort, you will participate in a series of developmental workshops which will support them to implement a community change project in their community.

Program elements include:

  • Begin the program with a two-night stay at The Deanery camp to meet other youth participants and build foundational community change skills!
  • Participate in 4 workshops designed to build youth capacity to create change, influence other and take action in their community
  • Receive one-on-one mentoring with the Youth Community Developer throughout the 16 weeks of implementing projects
  • Engage in peer-to-peer learning with other cohort members to learn from each other and support each other in implementing projects
  • Upon completion of the program, receive a reference letter and confirmation of volunteer hours
  • Receive funds for project start-up costs
Timeline for CCCH

Eligibility:

  • Must be ages 16-18
  • Must be able to attend in-person training at The Deanery from April 14-16, 2023
  • Have a project idea to implement in your community
  • Have a connection to the community you are implementing your project in
     

When applications close, screening will take place to ensure participants selected are from various communities across HRM.

Apply now! 

Applications open February 6th and close March 31, 2023

Questions?

Contact Becca at youth@halifax.ca, 902.233.8129 or DM on Instagram @hfxnextgen

text says "Halifax Youth" with youth@halifax.ca email and @hfxnextgen Instagram account