The organization which we would like to showcase today is Youth Central. Youth Central is a non-profit organization that focuses on helping youth become more engaged in their community by offering both volunteer and leadership opportunities. Youth Central offers a variety of programs, all of which are made for youth and run by youth. Following are brief summaries of the programs that Youth Central offers:
Youth Volunteer Corps
In Calgary, there are many volunteer opportunities that are offered by a variety of organizations that require a variety of skills to accomplish, such as helping out at a senior home or working booths at special events. However, many of said volunteer opportunities many not be open to general youth applications or may have restrictions on age or supervision. This is where the Youth Volunteer Corps comes in. With just a $50 registration fee, the YVC brings monthly volunteer opportunities to you, and you can pick and choose the ones which fit your timetable! This program allow you to commit as much or as little time as you want, depending on your interest and schedule, and allows you to volunteer easily with friends or to connect with youth from across the city. If you are interested in learning more about YVC or signing up for the program, you can visit their page at https://youthcentral.com/programs/yvc/.
Mayor’s Youth Council
Ever wanted to meet the Mayor of Calgary? Ever wanted to hold a leadership position in the city as a youth? The Mayor’s Youth Council is a committee comprised of youth that is focused around identifying issues related to youth in Calgary and to create meaningful solutions to address those problems. If you are interested in creating change for youth in Calgary and to be actively involved in creating change for the community for Calgary, the MYC is a great option for you! Applications for MYC open in August/September; check out their page at https://youthcentral.com/programs/myc/ to find out more!
TD Youth Earth Ambassadors
Super passionate about protecting the environment but feeling powerless? Then this program is perfect for you. At YEA, you will meet like-minded youth and discuss concerns as well as collective approaches to protecting the Earth. There will be an opportunity for you to voice your ideas and see them realized at your own hands! This program will teach you lots about ways to protect the environment while allowing you to make an impact in the community. Projects done this year at YEA include the Annual Energy Revolution Fair, the metal straws campaign, sustainable eating presentations, as well as the annual Veggie Cookoff. There is also the opportunity to participate in environmental workshops. In addition, you will meet lots of new friends and create changes together. Applications for YEA open in August/September; check out their page at https://youthcentral.com/programs/youthearthambassadors/ to find out more! Remember, a small action makes a big impact!
Calgary Youth Foundation
Funding for companies and personal projects can be difficult to come across, especially for youth, who are disadvantaged against their more experienced counterparts in the field of entrepreneurship when it comes to acquiring investors and sponsors. This means that acquiring money to kickstart your dream may be hard to come across. However, the Calgary Youth Foundation strives to change that by offering youth-driven projects around Calgary the opportunity to attain funds. With two grant cycles in the spring and the fall, projects can apply for up to $2000 each cycle. If you are interested in applying for funding, stay tuned to their page at https://youthcentral.com/programs/cyf/ for their 2019 fall granting cycle.