March 2021

A Message to the Community

According to Statistics Canada’s six-month COVID impact study released last September 2020, youth were experiencing the most significant decline in mental health across all age demographics. Public Health Ontario reported in December that 67-70% of children and adolescents reported a decline in at least one mental health domain.

The risks of and measured increases in childhood traumas related to mistreatment, poverty, and food insecurity during the pandemic are well-documented.  So too is evidence that those furthest from opportunity (children and youth in marginalized groups, living in isolated communities, and youth aging out of care) are experiencing the most severe impacts.

The closures of schools, after-school programs,  and many of the community spaces that children and families use means that access to support networks and helping adults outside the home continues to be limited and unpredictable. While we all respect the health imperatives that are causing these conditions, nonetheless it has largely fallen to children and youth service organizations to fill in the gaps. 

We have heard from you, that the situations you are dealing with are not the usual. More children are facing increased incidents of domestic violence, mental health issues due to loneliness and social isolation, as well as trying to manage other stressors such as learning loss, concerns about infecting family members, growing financial instability –and the potential jeopardization of future education and training plans. 

We don’t anticipate these issues will go away once the pandemic is behind us.  Indeed, we know that we all will be dealing with the residual impacts of these pandemic traumas for years to come.

Many of you have stressed the increased demand for funds for basic training such as NVCI, Mental Health First Aid, ASIST and First Aid. And, in these times, seeing a growing need for even more professional service supports such as funding to hire social workers, psychologists, etc. 

What’s worse, at a time when you are being asked to do more of what you have always done: faster, better, and for more children and youth – most of the funding programs that are available require you to create “new” projects and programs, rather than permit you to invest in existing operations that are not only working but working effectively.

We know that there has never been a time in our history when it has been more important to give intentional consideration to the longer-term impacts of our actions on the single most important influencer in shaping our future - our children.

With this on our minds, we are working diligently to ensure that the needs of children and youth are put at the forefront of the national dialogue on post-pandemic recovery.

We want to ensure an open dialogue with organizations, if you would like to be a part of the conversation, please contact Laura at info@nacy.ca.

Upcoming Events

In collaboration with Montreal-based Never was Average, Experiences Canada is pleased to offer three online workshops focused on different aspects of personal empowerment. The workshops will focus on how participants can use their own unique voice to better the world around them. These 90-minute sessions will take place once a month during March, April, and May and they will cover important topics such as identity, artistic expression and online presence. 

The first workshop will take place March 23rd and registration is now open! 

Experiences Canada’s new Virtual Exchange program is in full swing for its first round of participants! 

How it Works :  Classes/youth will be twinned together based on age level, shared goals and objectives for the program. Groups who have other connections across the country can ask to be paired together. Each group will have the opportunity to choose from up to six different activity units. A minimum of four (4) units should be completed for groups wishing to be pre-approved for an in person exchange next year (or when it is safe to do so).  However, there is no obligation to travel in the future, groups can choose to be virtual participants only.

What is the Youth Advocacy Program? 

UNICEF Canada’s Youth Advocacy Program is a 10-month online program that helps young people learn the skills and knowledge needed to become powerful advocates and activists in Canada. 

The program is designed for young people between the ages of 13-24 who are passionate about advocacy and activism, and creating change. It is for young people who want to learn more about the step-by-step process of creating an advocacy plan, legal rights, and how to influence decision-makers 

Deadline to Register is March 22nd, 2021, So REGISTER today!

In The News

Photo by Christinne Muschi/ Reuters

Ali: On International Women’s Day, #ChooseToChallenge gender discrimination in Canada – and everywhere

Nimao Ali, Mar 08, 2021  

"This year’s International Women’s Day is an occasion with special urgency. Activists around the world are pressing for everyone to #ChooseToChallenge the status quo by becoming more alert to gender discrimination.

But let’s remember: Today’s challenges have been lived by women, particularly Black women and other women of colour, for decades. Every woman and girl who ever dared to stand up has chosen to challenge."

Research & Innovation