Agenda Framework

Each forum was based on a 3-day format that allowed for interaction, discussion, idea generation and development, and participative decision-making on anti-racism education. The development of this project responded to youth consultations that have shown youth to be passionate about preserving their own space where they can safely and openly, and without interference, discuss issues important to them and elaborate their own strategies and initiatives.

First Day

The first evening together was crucial to the success of this participative forum. The purpose of the activities for day one was to brief participants about the weekend and the project, but more importantly to get them to know each other and raise the group's comfort level. After participants settled in, each Forum began with several icebreakers where UNA-Canada facilitators initiated a discussion on expectations and guidelines - of and for both participants and facilitators. Facilitators also spoke about the purpose and components of the regional forums, the YFAR project, and the international context - in particular the relevant UN 'international years' for 2001 and the World Conference Against Racism to be held in South Africa this August and September. The evening concluded with a candle-lit sharing circle where participants were invited to share whatever was on their minds.

Second Day

The purpose of this day was to first share individual understandings and experiences of racism, and then to become familiar with and evaluate a selection of existing anti-racism education materials. Participants were asked to review and critically evaluate a selection of existing anti-racism materials on the second day in order to inform the process of developing new educational tools or ways to combat racism. In other words, the exercise permitted participants to identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing resources in order for them to build on the first and not repeat the latter.

Third Day

The objective of the third and final day of the Forum was to develop new, youth-driven anti-racism tools and/or strategies. We began the day by considering two questions: what works to get young people's attention, and what are the important messages for youth-centred anti-racism education? We also brainstormed as a group on what outcomes are desired for a new educational model. Participants then formed smaller working groups in which concrete action plans were developed and which they believed to be appropriate, message-relevant, and engaging for their peers, bearing in mind the weekend's discussions and the evaluation of existing resources on Saturday. These 'plans' - documented in each of the regional forums' reports - encompass the goals, ideas, strategies for change developed by the participants of the Youth Forums Against Racism. Finally, each group decided upon a process for choosing two participants from their regional forum to represent their voices and ideas at the National Forum and to participate in the core team responsible for developing a new anti-racism educational resource. The weekend closed with a second sharing circle.

	-----	OTTAWA AGENDA
	-----	QUÉBEC CITY AGENDA
	-----	HALIFAX AGENDA
	-----	EDMONTON AGENDA