Project Name: Sookinchoot "the seeing of oneself" Youth Leadership Centre

Project Summary:      This is a new UMAYC project. The Sookinchoot Youth Leadership Centres main goal is to create and deliver a regional model for urban Aboriginal youth leadership that is supported by community collaborative action through partnerships; existing programs and services within the Friendship Centre and community. The programs will involve cultural, recreational and social programs, community service, employment and career support, job learning and mentorship opportunities.

Anticipated Results:

The anticipated results for this project include the development and delivery of a local model for urban aboriginal youth leadership that is supported through partnership development, enhanced service delivery for urban aboriginal youth within the Friendship Centre's own programs and from others within the local community, as well as through specific project funded opportunities that will be developed. 

The project will impact youth participants through involvement in four main program components that are focused on developing personal and leadership assets in youth through a variety of cultural, recreational and social programs and activities.  The project will focus on asset building with an eye to prevention and early intervention for younger youth; through the Warrior Circle Program the project will include individual support and community service to achieve a significant impact on the development of personal growth and empowerment for the youth involved; the impact of the project on underemployed and inexperienced youth will be through the support of formal group training and project based learning experiences; Youth Council members will develop lifelong leadership skills and career enhancing contacts and valuable experience through the project.

Through partnership development the project will have an impact on the ongoing provision of services and opportunities for urban aboriginal youth by allowing concentrated efforts to develop networks of support and awareness and to maximize resources within the community.

Through activities of the project we will have proved ourselves to the larger community resulting in ongoing support and awareness of the positive contributions and potential of urban aboriginal youth.