Current Programs
Leadership for the Earth is an outdoor environmental leadership program for Pender Island youth ages 13 – 18.
The program meets biweekly on Friday afternoons for outdoor at-a-distance activities related to outdoor leadership, environmental awareness, and food security.
We also have a monthly newsletter with virtual resources and activities. This program is run in collaboration with the Pender Islands Community Hall.
This is an initiative run in collaboration between the Pender Islands Community Hall and the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre.
The intention of this program is to provide an opportunity for intergenerational connection, knowledge sharing, laughter, and collective joy during what is a stressful and isolating time for many people in our communities.
We run virtual programming connecting youth community members (19 and under) and senior community members (55+) in Southern Gulf Islands communities.
Community Development Leader Program (Ongoing) – Winter 2020
Winter 2020 / 2021
The SGI CRC welcomed ten enthusiastic youth aged 18-29 to our team in October 2020. With their broad range of interests and talents they hit the ground running as Community Development Leaders (CDLs) on each of the Southern Gulf Islands.
They spent the next 4 months working collaboratively and individually on a variety of projects that benefit the community while also undergoing training and gaining certifications in several different fields.
Despite the added challenge of pandemic restrictions, the CDLs accomplished a great deal during their four-month contract with the SGI CRC. Trail building occurred on both Saturna and Mayne Island with some trail planning on Pender set for the spring.
In addition to the trail building training, the CDLs underwent rigorous Wildland Fire Operations and Safety training through their home island Fire Halls as well as First Aid training allowing them to be certified through the Red Cross.
On top of the physical training, the Community Development Leader Program helped connect the CDLs to non-profit organizations on their home islands which allowed them to develop program planning skills through creating new social programs this winter including the revamped Computer Savvy Seniors program and the Board Game Library at the Galiano Community Hall.
They also acted as support staff at the SGI CRC offices and assisted with ongoing projects and COVID relief efforts specific to their home islands such as the Mayne Island Food Bank and the Galiano Soup & Bread program. The ingenuity and adaptability of the Community Development Leaders allowed them to truly make a positive impact on the SGI community.
We thank them for their work and look forward to the future of the CDL program!
Watch our Facebook page and this site for future intakes for this program.
Youth Development Leadership Program (Ongoing)
Designed to engage youth from 18 to 29 regardless of their academic or abilities, this 2-year-old initiative builds self-confidence, leadership soft skills and perspective while helping teens create meaningful change in their lives and the lives of others through an experience-based learning approach.
To date, the Youth in this program have been involved in:
- Learning to run a community cafe.
- Selling at the market – entrepreneurship
- Developing community gatherings/events
- Preparing advertising and marketing Island programs
- Providing information to tourists,
- Helping in gardens
- Contributing to trail maintenance projects
- Helping to carry out retail inventories.
- Advanced skills training
Volunteer hours support graduation requirements, and references upon the successful conclusion of participation. With added skills, the young people are also be able to access selected training courses and education sessions offered at the SGICRC in its Employment program. Community development and leadership are key skills learned in the initiative as the Island youth work together and volunteer at different locations within their communities.
Youth Garden Meet-ups (Summer 2020)
During July and August 2020, the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre and the Pender Islands Community Hall collaborated to run youth leadership and skill development activities at the Pender Islands School Garden.
We helped to fix the fence and deer-proof the garden, learned how to save seeds, painted bed labels, made mosaic stepping stones, and enjoyed snacks made with ingredients from the garden.
Youth Volunteer Hub (Summer 2020)
The Youth Volunteer Hub was a program with the purpose to support youth volunteerism and leadership development on the Southern Gulf Islands (Pender, Galiano, Mayne, and Saturna). This program ran from June to August 2020.
We ran regular social and volunteer opportunities, skill and career development workshops, and helped youth find volunteering opportunities that excited them. This included events like movie and board game nights, bike rides, resume and cover letter workshops, and cooking workshops.
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