By Siobhan Laverdiere, Halton Youth Initiative Coordinator and Lily Viggiano, Youth Asset Builder
December 17, 2020
On Monday, November 30 – the Halton Youth Initiative (HYI) hosted a volunteer recognition event to honour the time, talent and heart that our volunteers contribute to the project.
… the night was all about celebrating our devoted youth volunteers and their growth and achievements despite everything that happened over 2020 and having to shift most of our volunteer opportunities to a virtual format. HYI youth volunteers showed tremendous strength and resilience throughout this time and have become a dynamic group of youth leaders who have forged on through the challenges, being an inspiration to our Halton community.
In a world where it is so easy to tune out, our youth volunteers tuned in and showed up for: the COVID-19 Virtual Response Team, Youth Mental Health projects, National Youth Week, Indigenous Topics—including hosted Indigenous Artist and Knowledge Keeper events, Podcasts, Hosted/Posted games & events, Expanding possibilities career panels, Your ReconciliACTION challenges, Community Builders, Supporting community partners, Older Adult Card Games, Your ReconciliACTION Journey, Truth team, Reconciliation Crew, Community Partner Project, the podcast team, Calls to Action crew, Creative Spaces, Black Lives Matter Panel, Team Goose, Team Mativations, the Snowfoxes, Crafting for a Cause (multiple), Community Clean Ups.
You’ve EXPRESSED CARE - for each other, for your community
You’ve had your GROWTH CHALLENGED - hosting virtual events, interviewing adults, tackling new tech applications and facilitating groups
You’ve PROVIDED SUPPORT - offering helping hands to new projects, attending other team events, being cheerleaders for one another and giving advice
We’ve SHARED POWER - youth led break out rooms, community dialogues led by volunteers, using feedback to drive new topics and projects
And You’ve EXPANDED YOUR POSSIBILITIES - by volunteering on this broad project that covers many topics, and engages with adults/community partners/the public in so many ways.
Thank you all for being part of this project. It’s been inspiring, empowering, and BIG SOUL FOOD during an otherwise dark and uncertain time. It is our honour to know you, volunteer alongside you and be connected to the Halton Youth Initiative.
With Gratitude,
Siobhan (HYI Coordinator)
Lily (Youth Asset Builder)
A Special Thank you to our Community Partners
· Town of Oakville
· YMCA of Oakville
· Oakville Public Library
· Our Kids Network
· Canadian Gap Year Association
· Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre
· voicED Radio
· Town of Halton Hills
· Acton BIA
· ROCK
· Town of Milton
· Shine Out – Just Be You
· Milton Public Library
· City of Burlington
· Burlington Public Library