By: Nigel Tinker & Joanne Gidney
HRCA Youth Coordinators
As September approaches and the Summer Youth Initiative comes to an end for another year, much has be left to reflect upon. This summer saw the expansion of HRC@P sites and services throughout the greater HRM. From the outset of the Initiative, the Nova Scotia C@P Association, in cooperation with Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development, proposed a general mandate for the summer; to design programs to enhance the relationships between community, individuals, and technology, in particular GPS Technology. It would be the responsibility of each of the 11 regions that comprise NSC@P, to design programs that meet the various interest and needs of their communities.Sometimes when you are part of an organization, which is geographically dispersed, and demographically diverse, it becomes easy to loose site of the big picture; in fact, some might argue it is hard to see a big picture at all. This being said, looking at the collective outcomes of interns, volunteers and HRC@P employees, efforts this summer paints a clear picture of a program with the capacity to achieve what is generally mandated, while at the same time, providing services related to the particular needs and interests of communities in the HRM. Perhaps the Summer Youth Initiative, in HRM, could be aptly described by adapting the cliché phrase “think global act local”, to say “think regional act local”, if the phrase does not already exist.
When Youth Interns in the HRM where asked what they felt the most significant contributions they, themselves, had been a part of this summer, the responses were ranging; as one might expect, given the diaspora of C@P sites in HRM.. In Waverly, intern Andrew Whitlock spent considerable time planning, and facilitating introductory computer courses to seniors. “They are so enthusiastic to learn everything they can, and always ask lots of questions”, Andrew says. “They mention something they saw their grandchild do and want to know how to do the same thing…Whether everything I teach sticks, or not, does not matter, they always come away with at least one new thing burned into their mind, and that is good enough for me…Whatever it is that sticks, it is something they will remember forever, I hope.” In addition to Andrew, a lot of interns spent time on similar projects this summer.
At the Keshen Goodman Public Library, intern Ella Muravyeva was involved piloting a one-on-one computer training program and at the North End Public Library, Intern Jordan Rodrigues worked on responsible internet usage through researching and reporting creditable information to Wikipedia. While Ella and Jordan were busy at two of Halifax’s larger libraries, at the Dartmouth North Community Centre, intern Christy McKelvie dedicated most of her time to her sites primary initiative “this sites primary goal is to give youth not only a place to spend time safely, but also, to have access to games that require active participation, which help bolster more generally active lifestyles…having youth access games which reflect a healthy lifestyle” Christy explains.
Alternatively, at the Spryfield Boys and Girls Club, intern Daniel Basquill divided his time between working with youth at the site, as well as constructing and maintaining a new website for the Boys and Girls Club C@P site. When asked what he felt the most significant contributions he was part of this summer were, Dan explained: “This site is home to the Boys & Girls Club of Spryfield. Its visitors are for the most part younger, between the ages of 5 and 15. Usually, if I look to what is happening, with each computer, I see any number of games being played… it has been my hope that the children and youth at this site would start to use the computers for more. The internet is an extremely useful resource, and there are any number of websites and programs whose benefits can be extensive. I have, therefore, made it a point to bookmark interesting educational and fun websites, and to install programs like, Google Earth.” To Daniel’s surprise he has seen site users utilizing Google Earth, the bookmarks, and other programs he had installed. “While this is a small contribution, I do feel it is significant, if for no other reason than it may have helped in widening our user’s perspectives.”
In addition to Daniel at the Spryfield Boys & Girls club, the Spryfield Salvation Army hosted a C@P site and intern Emilie Daigle this summer. Emily spent her summer working with younger youth between the ages of four and seven. Given the young age of the children, and the number of them at her site, Emily decided to incorporate GPS technology into a program aimed at the children’s knowledge and skill level. Likewise, Jenn Maclennan, intern at Veith House in Halifax’s North End, kept busy this summer programming for youth. This summer Jenn dedicated much of her time to teaching youth in the community, ranging from 3-12 years of age, foundational internet, geography, and GPS skills. “We had a scavenger hunt…This was intended to plant the seeds for exploratory minds to become inquisitive about things like geocaching”, Jenn says. Additionally, “we used maps and compasses to hold another quest for the kids where they were encouraged to, as much as they could, wrap their head around directions and maps.” This all culminated in a “GPS Day”, where participants drew upon skills learned throughout the summer to use GPS receivers to mark and locate coordinates.
Meanwhile, in Terence Bay, interns Amanda Collins, Brian Collins and Sarah Macleod, formed a dynamic trio allowing them to accomplish a number of significant services in their community. Amanda explains: “we have done day camps every Tuesday afternoon, ranging from scavenger hunts, using our GPS, to seashell hunting.” In late August the three hosted and facilitated a week long camp in cooperation with the HRM; focusing on, “outdoor fitness such as bike riding, kayaking, geocaching and swimming.” If this were not enough, the three have been actively involved in organizing a community festival in the Prospect Community. “It has been exciting to be involved in something that is so huge for our community. We have been responsible for advertising as well as finding volunteers, 120 of them”, Amanda says.
In Moser River, interns Patrick MacDonald and Keegan Moser have made use of their sites tranquil location, outside the hustle and bustle Halifax’s urban centres, to create an electronic database for genealogical data in their community. “We have been compiling the family trees of several local families and storing them in an electronic database using a program known as, Brothers Keepers.” Additionally, Patrick and Keegan spent time working on www.moserrivercap.vndv.com, a website aimed at promoting local history, events, geography, and business in the community. In between all of this, Patrick and Keegan found time work with the Eastern Health Board on updating listings from Lake Echo to Ecum Secum, and to help local residents create personal WebPages.
In addition to conventional C@P sites, HRC@P had interns in what might be called less conventional sites; nonetheless, interns at these sites reported an equally fruitful work experience. At Job Search Services in Dartmouth, intern Jenna MacAulay was busy helping individuals search for employment. “I got to interact with people and help them with their Job Search, which can be a hard process”, Jenna say’s. “The Resource Centre is a walk-in service for people to come use computer, photocopiers, fax machines, and other resources for job search purposes. I was able to help people with computers, online applications, resumes and cover letters. I really enjoyed talking to people and listening to their specific job search stories.” In fact, Jenna has enjoyed her Internship at Job Search Services so much that she is now considering employment counselling as a prospective career path. “I have come to be very interested in the employment process, and am now thinking about employment counselling as a future career choice once I have completed my Psychology degree at Acadia University”, Jenna says.
In addition to Jenna’s internship at Job Search Services HRC@P oversaw Andrew Robinson’s internship at CKDU, Dalhousie University Student’s Union radio station. “Working at the CKDU C@P site has been particularly rewarding for myself”, Andrew professes. “For starters, I haven’t had many opportunities to work with young people, let alone, put together a journalism camp for them to take part in. That things have gone so well is a great thing. My kids got involved in discussions about media with myself and some experienced journalists working in Halifax and they had lots of interesting insights. I feel extremely lucky to have had the chance to work with such a good group of kids.” Andrew admits he will miss working at CKDU, “it will be sad not getting to share office space with them beyond August, but I will remain a passionate contributor to the station as a volunteer.”
So at the end of the Summer Youth Initiative, the cumulative efforts of nineteen interns, and as many volunteers, supervisors, community partners and organizations, along with governmental and C@P employees paints a picture of a very enriching and worthwhile experience for all involved. Some will measure the success of a program, or an organization through its uniformity. However, this being said, the success of HRC@Ps 2008 Summer Youth Initiative can not be accounted for in this way. To measure the success of a program that serves as diverse and disburse a population as the HRM, one must consider its adaptability; its and capacity to offer a range of services, to a multitude of individuals, groups and communities, while maintaining the visages of a general mandate. It was with this general mandate in mind, as well as the interests and needs of their sites communities that allowed nineteen HRC@P Youth Interns to carry out a dynamic, and mutually enriching a program like the 2008, Summer Youth Initiative.
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