Columbia Basin Trust supports inspiring youth projects

Members of the Salmo Youth Advisory Council—which is in the process of hiring a co-ordinator for the Salmo Youth Action Project, one of four projects that recently obtained support from Columbia Basin Trust’s Columbia Basin Youth Grants program.

The next deadline for Columbia Basin Youth Grants is February 21, 2011.

Four youth projects were successful in the recent intake of the Columbia Basin Youth Grants program. Offered by Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), the grants support youth-led projects that directly benefit Basin youth (ages 15 to 29) and involve youth in project development, planning and implementation. Applications for the next intake are due February 21, 2011.

“The Columbia Basin Youth Grants support projects that develop leadership skills and include young people,” said Wayne Lundeberg, CBT director, Youth Initiatives. “This doesn’t mean that adults can’t be part of the process; just that youth must be meaningfully involved where appropriate.”

The Salmo Youth Action Project, one of the four projects approved, aims to empower youth to take action on important social issues in their community and will provide new educational, cultural and social opportunities for local youth.

“It’s very rewarding to see our planning come to life and to have our project approved,” said Melanie Mobbs, administrative co-ordinator for the Salmo Valley Youth and Community Centre. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to try these new ideas, like the radio show, writing club and art and drama workshops. We're looking forward to a fantastic 2011 for youth in the Salmo Valley.”

Finding a new image

Another project receiving CBT support, Redefining Beauty, is a peer-led program that will offer workshops for young women in grades seven to 12 in the Greater Trail area, covering topics like body image, self-esteem and healthy relationships.

“Young women struggle with issues like relationships, body image and self-worth,” said Meghan Stewart, co-ordinator of the Columbia Youth Community Development Centre, which is spearheading the project. “Redefining Beauty will help them deal with these struggles. With funding from its generous supporters, such as CBT, this project has been a success in the past, and we are excited for round two in the spring of 2011.”

The other successful projects are the Beautiful Creston Valley video production project, which will provide youth with digital media production skills through workshops and hands-on experience, and the Twin Rivers 360 Mentorship program in Castlegar, an after-school program that connects high school and elementary students and builds resiliency skills.

The deadline for the next intake of the Columbia Basin Youth Grants is February 21, 2011. Unlike previous years, in which CBT accepted applications year-round, this year the program has two application deadlines, in spring and fall.

People with project ideas are encouraged to start their applications by contacting CBT’s youth liaison well before the deadline. The liaison provides support to applicants throughout the process, including discussing project ideas, providing application assistance and giving feedback on rough copies of applications.

For more information and to access the application form and support documents, visit www.cbt.org/youth or www.scratchonline.ca/grants.