Project Name:              Sun Fire Youth Talking Circles

Project Summary:      This is a new UMAYC project. Aboriginal youth will be selected to educate their peers about high-risk behaviours such as unsafe sex, drug use, tattooing and piercing practices that can lead to HIV or Hepatitis C infections. Urban Aboriginal youth between the ages of 15-24 will organize and staff all aspects of the project with the support of a project coordinator. The youth will conduct focus groups, develop peer education training programs and workshop format that is culturally relevant, plan and facilitate presentations and workshops.

Anticipated Results:

Ø      Printed and published literature for Aboriginal youth on issues such as: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, safer sex, homophobia, two-spiritedness, tattooing/piercing and Sun Fire Youth project information.

Ø      Strategy on reducing high Aboriginal youth HIV/AIDs infection rates and high risk behaviour

Ø      Participation by Aboriginal youth community throughout lower mainland

Ø      Develop network and support of Aboriginal Youth organizations in lower Mainland, with published resource list, and increased knowledge of other services.

Ø      To provide an opportunity for Aboriginal Youth to be trained in coordination, leadership, outreach and pamphlet/poster design and publication.

Ø      To develop peer education workshop format on various health topics along with Peer Support Manual that can be used in other Aboriginal Communities.

Ø      Support system for Aboriginal youth.