Lunenburg County Youth Connecting for Better Futures
Art, music, physical activity and workshops to build job skills are just some of the activities helping youth in Lunenburg County to make good decisions and avoid crime.
The province announced today, May 22, its newest Lighthouses Program partner, the YMCA King Street Youth Centre. In this safe, non-judgemental space, youth can relax and work through the many decisions they face.
"Youth need to feel valued, take part in activities that build self-esteem, and talk about issues with their peers," said Lunenburg West MLA Gary Ramey, on behalf of Justice Minister Ross Landry. "We can guide them to live their best lives and avoid criminal activity by offering them great options. And working with partners, we can help make Nova Scotia communities safer for everyone."
The YMCA Lunenburg County, which oversees the King Street Youth Centre, worked with youth to design a variety of activities, including artistic development, music and cooperative games. The King Street Youth Centre offers drop-in programs and a safe place for youth to gather. It also offers opportunities to learn practical skills such as resume writing or cooking, and receive educational support.
Emma Sutherland is a member of the YMCA Youth Leadership Corps, a group of young people who helped develop the programs at the King Street Youth Centre.
"Being a member of the Corps and participating in programming at the King Street Youth Centre has taught me to have compassion, be open-minded, and be patient,” she said. “Not only do I get to better the lives of the children I volunteer with, I get to better my own as well."
Youth can learn about the program through its website and the YMCA Lunenburg County’s recruiting and promotional material, as well as through their schools and the YMCA’s Youth Leadership Corps members.
Community partnerships are an important investment for crime prevention. Government, police, crime prevention advocates, community organizations, educators, parents, youth and others have experienced great success by working together.
"This grant from the Nova Scotia Lighthouses Program is a strategic investment in the development of Lunenburg County's youth," said Chief John Collyer, Bridgewater Police Service. "It is an excellent investment that will pay dividends in crime reduction in the future."
The project will receive a grant of $12,000 per year.
Mr. Ramey said the demonstrated success achieved by the Lighthouses Program partners across the province has encouraged the government to continue to invest in community projects to engage youth and prevent crime.
The YMCA King Street Youth Centre is the second partnership announced this year. The first was Halifax Youth Advocate Program, which is supporting girls at risk of crime through its Girls United project.
The Lighthouses Program has now invested more than $1.2 million in 22 partners across the province since it began in 2010.
A full list of Lighthouses Program partners is available at http://novascotia.ca/just/prevention/lighthouse_grants.asp.