For the past six months, Kimberley’s Youth Engagement Strategy (YES) project has been searching for a better understanding of the youth experience in Kimberley. What are the current values, experience and outlooks of youth aged 12 through 29 in Kimberley?
With such a wide range of age, it is no surprise that the list of recommendations arising from the project is long and varied. YES has recently released 58 draft recommendations addressing 12 core themes ranging from employment and health to sports, affordable housing and youth-friendly spaces.
The next step is for interested community members to have a look at the recommendations and respond. A community presentation on the project and draft recommendations is scheduled for March 19th at Centre 64 at 7 p.m.
“The goal of the recommendations is to provide a three-year community “road map” to support and enhance positive youth experiences in Kimberley by creating a broad awareness of the gaps, needs and opportunities that have been identified as important to youth, young adults and youth-serving organizations,” says Ingrid Liepa, YES Project coordinator.
““It is exciting to see the project reach the stage of proposing recommendations to the community. The Steering Committee has been very supportive along the way and we are eager to receive feedback on how to improve what’s being presented in this package.”
Recommendations given high priority in the draft report include creating a select committee on youth engagement under the city’s umbrella; creating an online hub for all things youth in Kimberley to more effectively communicate the range of services, events, jobs and other opportunities available for youth; and exploring options and strategies to fully refresh and revitalize the youth centre, expand its programming and hours to have greater appeal to and usage by all youth.
Recommendations also include finding ways to provide affordable, substance-free venues for youth and young adults to socialize, launching a seniors mentoring youth program; developing a sports council and a youth advisory council for the skate park and bike skills park.
If you can’t make the open house on March 19, you can access the recommendations online. Visit www.yeskimberley.com and follow the instructions to download the document. The deadline for comments and feedback is March 31, 2015. For more information, please email info@yeskimberley.com.
YES! gratefully acknowledges the support of Columbia Basin Trust in funding this project.