Youth Projects Benefit from $39,360 Investment
For Release #05-331
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005
WHITEHORSE -- Young people throughout the Yukon will benefit from Youth Investment Fund grants through 20 new projects in eight Yukon communities.
"The approved projects represent youth centre activities, leadership training, after-school activities, physical activities and cultural events and workshops. There is truly something for everyone," Premier Dennis Fentie said.
Twenty successful projects were announced today by the ministers of the fund's sponsoring departments: Premier Dennis Fentie, minister responsible for the Youth Directorate; Highways and Public Works Minister Glenn Hart; Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers; Women's Directorate Minister Elaine Taylor; and Justice and Education Minister John Edzerza.
The Watson Lake Youth Centre, and Watson Lake Secondary School have received a total of $6,340 to fund three separate projects. In Ross River, the school and the Ross River Dena Council have also been funded for two projects, including youth support groups. They will receive $4,700.
Old Crow has been funded $1,000 for special training. Skookum Jim Friendship Centre's aboriginal after-school program receives $3,500 and both the RCMP and Bringing Youth Towards Equality (BYTE) receive $3,000 for the Young Riders and Get Our Groove On programs respectively.
Other Whitehorse projects funded include the Kwanlin Koyotes for tradition pursuits ($2,500); Young Women Exploring Careers ($2,000); the Longest Night Society gets $1,200 for a true stories youth show; and La societe Des masques D'or receives $1,000 towards a francophone evening for youth. The Yukon Aboriginal Sports Circle will get $1,800 to support developmental sports camps for the North American Indian Games. The Yukon Arts Centre will receive $920 to help develop portfolios for youth.
The remainder of the funding goes to rural community projects including a youth trapping mentorship program in Mayo ($1,000); a skate sharpening venture through Tantalus School in Carmacks ($1,000), and a cultural day and youth participation project in Carmacks, sponsored by Little Salmon Carmacks First Nations ($3,500). Tr'ondek Hwech'in will receive $3,500 for a youth leadership conference.
The Youth Investment Fund supports community-driven initiatives aimed at addressing the needs of Yukon youth. Many of the projects are designed to help youth susceptible to "at risk" behaviors or those who are considered to be "at risk".
Since the fund's inception in 1995, 365 projects have been funded. The next deadline for applications is April 2006.
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