award of excellence youth - Canadian Race Relations Foundation

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
YOUTH
Award of Excellence
Equitas - International Centre for Human Rights
Education - Speaking Rights: Bridging Divides and
Building Youth Voices in Communities
The Inspiration ~ Advancing Democracy, Peace and
Social Justice through Education
Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education
(formerly The Canadian Human Rights Foundation) was founded
in 1967 by a group of scholars and social activists. The mandate
was to advance democracy, human development, peace and social
justice through education programs. John Humphrey, one of the
drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was a
founding member.
The Focus ~ Canada-wide and International
Equitas develops innovative education programs in Canada and
internationally. They provide human rights defenders and
educators, government officials, children and youth with the
knowledge, skills and attitudes required to promote human rights
values and to combat inequality, exclusion and other forms of
human rights abuse. In Canada they work with over 350 partners
promoting respect for diversity, non-discrimination and children’s
and youth rights.
The Story ~ Support in Action
“It’s easy to talk about youth rights, it’s something different to
have youth reflect and act to promote respect!” says Darley
Polony, youth worker at Dawson Community Centre. Equitas is
working with youth workers across Canada empowering them to
take on leadership roles “The Speaking Rights Program and the
underlying values have allowed me to implement positive projects,
giving a significant voice to my youth in Verdun, where we
struggle with poverty and violence, especially being a young black
woman.” explains Darley. Last spring, Darley received a minigrant from Equitas to support a photo project with her group of 8
young women from diverse groups. “We designed the project with
the girls: they had to choose 5 women significant to them, take
their picture, and ask them about what makes them beautiful. Since
they wanted to go beyond appearances, they connected what makes
these women so beautiful, with human right values!” In 2012,
Equitas supported 12 youth engagement projects like Dawson
Community Centre’s.
Making a Difference in the Community ~ Promoting
Positive Intercultural Relations
One of Equitas’ core programs in Canada, Speaking Rights for
youth 12 to18 years old, has had 5500 youth, 450 youth workers,
and 200 organizations in 7 cities across Canada participate since
2010. Staff working with youth are promoting positive
intercultural relations, dealing with discrimination, racism,
bullying, and preventing and resolving conflicts in their
communities. Community-based organizations are better equipped
to promote respect for diversity, active participation, leadership,
youth rights, sense of belonging, and community engagement
youth programs.
A Word of Praise
“We believe that Equitas has been greatly contributing to the fight
against racism and the protection of human rights in Montreal
through its Speaking Rights Program for youth (…).Educating
youth is an effective way of defending and promoting human rights
leading to engaged citizens, respectful of the rights of others and
open to differences.” Quebec Board of Black Educators- QBBE,
Montreal.
Sharing your Best Practice and Reaching Out ~ Youth
and Communities Come Together
Activities and projects in the Speaking Rights Toolkit reinforce
self-esteem, respect for diversity, and a sense of belonging by
challenging youth to look at their own attitudes and beliefs and
work together to improve their communities. Since 2008, more
than 200 community organizations and municipalities in Montreal,
Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria, Lillooet and Winnipeg have reached
out to over 5500 youth.
Overcoming Challenges ~ Reaching Youth in Informal
Settings
Speaking Rights was developed after an extensive needs
assessment involving over 200 youth and youth workers from
across the country. Reaching youth in the informal community
sector can be challenging: there may not be regularly organized
youth activities, or youth tend to just ‘’drop-in’’ on an irregular
basis, which can make it difficult to have long-term engagement of
the same youth over time. We responded to this by designing a
flexible, appealing and adaptable Toolkit.
The Best Practice Tool ~ Speaking Rights Program and
Toolkit
The Speaking Rights Toolkit is an innovative education tool which
supports and develops youth leadership skills and participation. It
promotes: • Respect for diversity • Inclusion • Acceptance •
Cooperation • Respect • Fairness • Responsibility. The Toolkit
provides concrete opportunities for youth to express their opinions
and take action in areas that are important to them. Youth workers
are given training in using the Toolkit.
Thelonius Oliver, youth
worker at YMCA NDG
is engaged with Speaking
Rights since the needs
assessment and was
presenting his expierence
at the launch of the
Toolkit in 2010.
Vision for the Future
As part of Speaking Rights we hope to expand programming
beyond BC, Manitoba and Quebec to offer training and program
support to organizations from coast to coast. In addition to
supporting more youth community action projects we also hope to
share program results and best practices.
Contact Information
Ian Hamilton
Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education
Executive Director
666 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1100
Montréal Québec H3A 1E7
Tel: 514-954-0382
Fax: 514-954-0659
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.equitas.org
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