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National Youth Forum
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Overview
The YFAR project consisted of four regional forums and a national
forum. The national forum took place on the weekend of August 3-5,
2001, just outside of Ottawa. The objective of this weekend was
to consolidate results and recommendations from the regional gatherings,
and to finalize the form, scope, and content of the youth-driven,
youth-focused education model for
addressing racism. During this national forum,
the participants decided that the education model would take the
form of a toolkit, referred to as "the KIT".
Please consult the agenda and national
forum report for a detailed description of the weekend. For
more information on "the KIT", please visit the education
model page.
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Selection Process
Two participants from each regional forum (for a total of 8) were elected or selected to represent their forum at the national forum. The selection process varied from forum to forum. Participants at each forum had to decide whether to choose an electoral process, arbitrary selection, having the facilitators choose following the weekend, or any other idea the group felt was best tailored to their forum. Three forums chose election, and one asked UNA-Canada to select representatives based on statements of intent.
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Promotion & Distribution of the KIT
The youth participants at the national forum not only fleshed out what the KIT should contain in terms of content, but also developed and provided the material needed. Over an 8 month period, the national team hammered away at collecting, drafting, organizing, and editing the content of the KIT. In light of the lead role national youth team members played in producing the KIT, UNA-Canada recognized the necessity of including them in the development of a detailed, nation-wide promotion and distribution strategy. A second national forum was planned at which participants focused on putting together a national strategy for getting the KIT "out there"! The personal and team plans developed exceeded expectations and have led to strong visibility of the KIT in many regions across Canada. Here are some of the events organized by YFAR participants that took place across the country during March 2002:
Nationally
A national launch was organized on March 21, 2002 - the UN International
Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This launch took
place at Ottawa Public Library. Please read our press
release for more detailed information.
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Mark Masongsong promoted the KIT within the university community - UBC and SFU - and met with his MLA who connected him with the Ministry of Multiculturalism in BC with the hope of including the KIT in their programs. The KIT was also presented to other organizations such as the Western Office of Save the Children and the BC office of Youth Volunteer Corps who will include activities of the KIT in their next training sessions.
New Brunswick
Darcy Gray started disseminating the KIT within the New Brunswick Community College and local schools in Miramichi. Darcy's campaign gathered momentum and the KIT got coverage from the Telegraph Journal (provincial newspaper) and provincial television stations. Different school district personnel have shown great interest in the KIT. New Brunswick Training and Employment Development Minister Norm McFarlane issued a statement congratulating Darcy for his part in the project.
Alberta
Rida Abboud focused on promoting the KIT through different conferences and seminars being organized in her region. She participated in a youth consultation for the Racial and Cultural Diversity Task Force in Calgary, made a presentation to students and personnel at Mount Royal College, and promoted the KIT at an international social works convention.
Ontario
Rizwana Kaderdina and Monika Rahman organized a workshop at the Global Citizens' Forum in Toronto where educators, activists, and students had the opportunity to receive an in-depth presentation on how the KIT came about and the different issues addressed through this manual. Rizwana and Diana Ip also promoted the KIT during a launch organized by Youth Action Network for the International Youth Week. Gillian Roy introduced the KIT for the Sioux Lookout community while visiting local schools to showcase the KIT.
Quebec
Danny Labrie conducted workshops in local schools in the Montreal region while promoting the KIT to youth organizations such as the Bureau de consultation jeunesse (BCJ).
National Youth Team Members
| Rida Abboud | ridaa@hotmail.com |
| Darcy Gray | darcy_gray@hotmail.com |
| Rizwana Kaderdina | riz.kaderdina@utoronto.ca |
| Mark Masongsong | mmm@sfu.ca |
| Kajori Monika Rahman | monika@unac.org |
| Dannie Labrie | swir_l_ing@hotmail.com |
Other national team participants include:
Jennifer Chong
Sebastian Margarit
Shaun Webb
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