Barbara Latkowski
Caledonia Courier
The first ever Youth Empowerment Project (Y.E.P.) is coming to Fort St James and its calling all youth between the ages of 13-21 to come and participate.
The event will take place at Kwah Hall during the first week of spring break from March 29-April 1.
The free event will include huge door prizes and all meals are provided during the week.
The project is hosted by Desiree Whitely, a career counsellor for Nak’azdli Band as well as Carla Olinek from the Alternate Justice Centre in Fort St. James.
“There is something for everyone,” Whitely says. “We will be having different presentations each day on different topics such as, bullying, achieving educational goals, suicide prevention and youth empowerment. We will also have some keynote speakers like the internet sensation Mike Scott who will promote sobriety and twins Dani & Lizzi who are known for “Dancing in the Sky”. They will be putting a fun art workshop for youth as well as a youth dance.”
For Whitely and Olinek, it’s all about motivating young people today.
“We wanted to set up something for youth because we notice all of the obstacles and trauma they experience in life and we want to give them something to look forward to,” Whitely said.”
The week will also be full of team-building workshops, interactive discussion and cultural teaching.
The free event is open to all youth in Fort St. James, not just from Nak’azdli Band. Doors will be open at 9 a.m. each day for breakfast and workshops will begin at 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
A community dinner will conclude the event where youth can present all that they have learned during the week.
“We just want to get as many attend as we can, especially those who need help. We want to work them, connect them and motivate them, “Whitely said.