News release
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND RURAL CANADIANS EXPLORING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO INVOLVING YOUTH IN RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia - February 18, 2005 - The Honourable Wayne Easter, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food with special emphasis on Rural Development, today announced funding for a research initiative aimed at increasing youth involvement in rural communities. He made this announcement at the conference Policies to Support Healthy and Sustainable Rural Communities in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia.
"Through the Models for Rural Development and Community Capacity Building initiative, the Rural Secretariat is investing $885,000 in this research project," announced Mr. Easter. "The HeartWood Centre for Community Youth Development has been using the "youth action team" approach to help young people work constructively with adults to the benefit of communities.The Rural Secretariat will be partnering with HeartWood to evaluate the action team approach and document what makes this approach to rural development and community capacity building work, and what conditions need to be in place to successfully replicate the approach in other rural, remote and northern communities."
"The HeartWood Centre for Community Youth Development has over 14 years of experience working with rural youth. We were seeing young people participating in adventure and leadership programs, returning to their communities ready to take action and really get involved, but not having any way to do so," explains Catherine Phoenix, Associate Director of Operations for HeartWood.
Youth action teams help build communities by involving youth in meaningful activities in their community, encouraging them to stay, and improving the community's capacity to understand and respond to youth needs.
"Youth can and do make important contributions to their rural communities. They have incredibly creative ideas and bring enthusiasm and energy to their work," said Mr. Easter. "I am pleased the Government of Canada has this opportunity to support an initiative with such potential to benefit rural youth and communities across the country."
In addition to helping governments with their decision making, the information collected in this research project will benefit the individuals, organizations and communities involved with the models and with other projects aimed at community development and capacity building.
Funding for this research initiative comes from the five-year, $55-million renewal of the Canadian Rural Partnership, announced in June 2002. The Government of Canada believes that vibrant communities and a sustainable resource base are the foundations for a strong rural Canada.
For more information, please contact:
Rural Communications
Rural Secretariat
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Phone: (506) 851-3325
Or: (506) 381-0501
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