Project Name:              Arrows to Freedom

Project Summary:    This is a continuing UMAYC project. The AFCHS would like to continue to provide a much needed range of services to urban Aboriginal youth in the Simon Fraser Region. They provide recreational and cultural activities, workshops, lifeskills, group circles and sweat lodges. Key areas currently being served are Burnaby, New Westminster, South Vancouver and Port Coquitlam.

Anticipated Results: Arrows to Freedom anticipates that funding for this program will provide opportunities for youth to be employed in either full and part time positions.  In addition a number of youth will gain experience through their participation on the Youth Advisory Council.  This experience will ensure that youth are actively involved in the decision making of the programs.

Youth that are participating in the project will have a center where they can access positive activities and have a safe place to go.   They will have an opportunity to access culturally appropriate services that are often hard to access due to living in an Urban environment.  

Youth will strengthen their links in the local community as they are provided opportunities to access local community centers and other services specifically targeted for youth i.e. youth employment, youth health services and healing centers.

A number of the program activities are targeted for the pre-teen youth.  By providing this service we anticipate that because there is a positive place to enjoy cultural, social and recreational activities there will be less involvement of youth in negative activities, such as gang recruitment and sexual exploitation at an early age.