National Association of Friendship Centres

1. National Association of Friendship Centres National Programs

2. NAFC National Programs Aboriginal Friendship Centre Program (AFCP) • Program administration was transferred from DCH to the NAFC in March 1996 • Delivers core-funding for basic staff and operations to 99 Friendship Centres and 7 Provincial/Territorial Associations

3. NAFC National Programs Urban Multi Purpose Aboriginal Youth Centres Initiative (UMAYC) • Designed to provide urban Aboriginal youth with a wide range of culturally based programs, services and activities • Projects are locally controlled and designed in conjunction with Aboriginal youth

4. NAFC National Programs UMAYC • Structured in a manner that will empower Aboriginal youth to address the challenges they face and determine their own future in a safe and culturally relevant environment • Primary goal of UMAYC is to create a network of urban Aboriginal youth centres to support and assist Aboriginal youth in enhancing their economic, social and personal prospects

5. NAFC National Programs Young Canada Works

6. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth • One of four components of the Government of Canada’s Young Canada Works Program • Funded annually for $1.5 million, YCW for Aboriginal Urban Youth creates over 300 summer positions for urban Aboriginal youth in Friendship Centres and Provincial/Territorial Associations across Canada

7. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth The objectives of the Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Youth program are; • To provide hans-on work experience in the culturally supportive milieu of the Aboriginal Friendship Centres and their affiliates • To provide Aboriginal youth with earnings to assist them in financing their education

8. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Objectives • Promote the employability of Aboriginal youth • Encourage understanding and appreciation of Canada’s achievements • Build connections among Canadians, and • Build connections to Canada’s diverse places

9. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Youth employed assist in the delivery of programs to the community focusing on youth-related activities such as; • Recreation • Special events • Cultural activities • Drop-in centres • Outreach programs • Peer counselling • Health programs • Exchanges • Children’s programs

10. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth • Period of employment is from May 1 to September 15 • 30 - 40 hours per week • 6 to 16 weeks in length • Wages reflect the level of education attained by the participants, but are not below the minimum wage of the province or territory

11. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Benefits to Employers, Employees and Participants • Students gain valuable work experience and money to pursue their education • Work experience can influence their future career plans

12. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Benefits • Friendship Centres benefit from the capacity that is brought to their organization by the availability of a program which provides funding for positions • Participants in projects are given access to culturally relevant activities in their community

13. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Cultural and Canadian identity • Culturally supportive milieu of Friendship Centres allow students to gain work experience while maintaining cultural roots • Promotion of cultural distinctiveness and pride in Canadian identity • Integration into Canadian society while maintaining and experiencing cultural roots

14. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Community Partnerships and Cross-cultural Awareness • Friendship Centres and Provincial/Territorial Associations develop partnerships with community organizations such as; • Royal Canadian Mounted Police • YMCA • Boys and Girls Clubs • Community Hospitals

15. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Statistics • In 2002/2003 there were a total of 325 positions created • Almost 2/3 of the students employed were female • 1/2 were Status Indian • 1/3 were Metis • 1/2 of projects delivered were focused specifically on Youth programming • Over 7,400 people participated in some way across Canada

16. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Best Practices • Annual Multi-Cultural Youth Gathering, Labrador Friendship Centre, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador-Newfoundland • Presentations by motivational speakers, native games, sports, traditional crafts and food • Participation of all Aboriginal groups in the area and people from other diverse backgrounds

17. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Best Practices • Sizzling Summer Day Camp, Interior Indian Friendship Society, Kamloops, British Columbia • Activities for community children aged 6-12 • Activities include sports, crafts, mask making, sculpture, tours and games

18. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Lessons Learned • Development of NAFC Program Administration practices • Employment and involvement help keep Aboriginal youth in the Friendship Centre Movement • Develop Leadership skills • Stable program funding is essential to the development of long-term program planning in communities

19. Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Success Stories • Zandra Wycotte

20. National Association of Friendship Centres Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth Visit the National Association of Friendship Centres website at www.nafc-aboriginal.com or email nafcgen@nafc-aboriginal.com FOR MORE INFO...