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Canadian Rural Partnership
Rural Youth Dialogue  Rural Youth in Action: Lessons in Community Leadership Rural Youth in Action AAFC No.: 55925612B TABLE OF CONTENTS
Rural Youth in Action:
Lessons in Community Leadership INTRODUCTIONAs part of the Government of Canada's efforts to continue the dialogue with youth, the 2003 National Rural Youth Conference, Young Canadians, Leaders of Today and Tomorrow, was held in Orillia/Ramara, Ontario from May 2-4, 2003. This event brought together over 60 young Canadians (between the ages of 18 to 29) from rural, remote and northern communities across the country. The conference gave participants a valuable opportunity to discuss their roles as innovators and develop strategies, skills and tools to strengthen their leadership within their communities. The main topics of discussion at the conference were "Innovation," "Partnerships" and "Entrepreneurship." To participate in the 2003 National Rural Youth Conference, delegates were asked to prepare and submit a brief project proposal outlining a community issue that they felt was important and one they would propose to become involved within their own community. Youth were asked to be innovative in their proposals and present their own ideas to address their chosen issue. The projects could be new or existing initiatives as long as they had a community focus and were carried forward in an innovative way. Participants were also asked to find a mentor from their community who would offer guidance on their projects and help to apply the skills and tools they acquired during the conference. Finally, youth were asked to report back on their projects and share their experiences. Rural Youth in Action: Lessons in Community Leadership highlights the successes of these young leaders, as well as the difficulties they faced and overcame. It's hoped that other youth from across Canada may apply these lessons as they carry out their own community projects. It also includes useful tips on mentorship, funding and promotion, and features detailed descriptions of two projects and interviews with the proponents. This publication is based on anecdotal information from youth project participants, as well as other rural youth who are active in their communities. It is a reflection of their experiences and views alone, and includes insight into their interactions with mentors and other individuals in their community who were involved in the projects. BACKGROUNDBefore they began their community projects, the participants were asked to consider what issues their project would address, and the potential benefits for their community. This resulted in projects that focused on youth becoming more involved in their communities, by working toward the construction of a needed facility or building a greater sense of goodwill and community esteem, among many others. Overall, the participants gained valuable insight into the process of seeing a community project through its initial stages, with many achieving overall success as the project reached either a conclusion or continued as an ongoing community service. They overwhelmingly reported that the process helped both youth and other community members, while many also pointed out to the lifelong skills they learned in all aspects of the project's development. One of the most successful aspects of this process was the relationship that many developed with their mentors, who often provided not only a voice of support, but offered valuable advice as well. Challenges were certainly part of the process as well. Not all projects ran as smoothly as others, while some projects had to be modified from the original vision. Various challenges ranged from such things as securing timely funding, finding enthusiastic partners, balancing work and school, or simply knowing what forms had to be filled out and when. These are not to be seen as shortcomings. Instead, they are valuable lessons that can be considered when other Canadians develop their own community projects in the future. I. A COMMUNITY FOCUSSo how did the community react to the projects launched by these youth? Were they helpful? Were they receptive? What kind of support did the participants receive? Here is what they found: "Traditional leaders and older members of the community have been very supportive and receptive since both groups agree that investing in our youth is also investing in building stronger communities." -- Brian Gignac "Business relationships were established between them (community members) regardless of age gaps." -- Félix Bussière II. MENTORINGAs part of their original proposals, the participants were asked to identify a mentor to help them meet their project objectives. The idea is that the act of mentoring is a collaborative, mutually beneficial partnership between a mentor (who has greater skills, knowledge or experience) and a mentee (who is looking to enhance his or her knowledge, skills and experience). When examining the results of the completed projects, the mentorship experience was overwhelmingly positive. Many of the participants indicated that not only were their projects launched with the help of a mentor, but that the mentor could often be counted upon to give advice on how to pilot the project when waters got rough. "My mentor made it possible for me to develop my project and advised me on several occasions. She's involved in community economic development, and was able to guide me in making the right decisions and teach me about the realities facing certain rural communities." -- Marie-Eve LaRocque "Proceed with a substantial part of the work alone and then show it to the mentor from time to time for feedback and assistance in directing the project.You should see the mentor as a resource person. Do not do all the work with him or her because you need to develop a sense of initiative." -- Félix Bussière III. FUNDINGOne of the most difficult tasks in any project is finding the money to support it. This issue was certainly no different for the project proponents. Each one of them was asked to outline their experiences and attitudes in tracking down funding. Their responses suggest that good preparation, innovation and imagination brought about the results they were looking for. "Talk to schools and community centers. Often times their facilities are under used. Many sponsors prefer to donate various resources other than money, so asking for in-kind support of this type can be the best way to gain valuable resources for your project." -- Corey T. Parsons "If you have a large group of people who are interested in spending a lot of time raising money, then car washes, bake sales and flea markets are great ideas…you will find that people have all kinds of stuff they want to get rid of. I was able to obtain four beds, a living room set, and kitchen chairs at no cost, by making a presentation to a group who knew someone who had these extra items." -- Angela Johnston "Offer something in return. For example, free office space for a mention in the newspaper, or upkeep of the building, snow removal...basically, create an 'offer they can't refuse'..." -- Allen Richards "I acquired the skill of stress, the skill of withdrawal after being worked against by certain individuals, and the skill of wanting to not have anything to do with certain individuals once damage has been done. I realize these are not skills, so I guess I've learned the skill of perseverance, to not give up on my ideas, even though it is not going the direction I had initially planned." -- Andrew Plett
IV. CHALLENGESFunding isn't the only challenge involved in launching a community project. From the outset, participants were asked to anticipate potential problems and how they would deal with them. However, unforeseen challenges can always creep up. Here are some of the challenges they encountered, along with how they attempted to solve them: "The two biggest challenges have been finding volunteers and sponsors. As far as finding and keeping volunteers I think the best approach is to always be positive with them and to try to make it a rewarding and fun experience." -- Jason Mandes "Getting responses from businesses and employers. Due to their busy schedules, I spent lots of time contacting employers and literally running around to get their permission, (but I) found ways to get in touch with them. Phone calls, faxes and e-mails got the job done and everything turned out okay in the end." -- Brian Gignac Other problems encountered:
V. WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'TOnce the challenges and solutions were identified, the participants suggested a number of ideas that they would keep and what they would probably not attempt again. What worked … "Plan, plan, plan! Coming up with as detailed a plan as possible makes things so much easier in the long run. It helps to keep you on task, and if you run into a block when working on one thing, you can always come back to it and find something else to shift gears and work on for a while, until you can resume what you were previously working on." -- Josh Leslie "I think an important first step in any project is to set out clear and realistic goals and objectives. This will help to keep your project focused if things get sidetracked. It is also important to clearly set out how your project will benefit the community as whole and then to promote it as much as possible." -- Jason Mandes … and what didn't work "The one thing that sticks out in my mind, is that I would have gotten started earlier on drumming up media coverage for the event, as there was only coverage from the local radio station and student newspaper on the event, even though other (larger) media conglomerates were contacted." -- Josh Leslie VI. TIPSThe participants also had a number of tips for those who may wish to tackle a community project of their own. Here are some of their suggestions: "Don't try to do something by yourself--it is too much and you need the community support to make it happen." -- Desmond Collins "Believe in the value of your project. Show the positive results of your project to help get others on board and display perseverance throughout the project." -- Corey T. Parsons "One should also be flexible, because things rarely go as planned and be confident in yourself and your project. In addition, it's important not to get too discouraged when things go wrong. Try to learn from your mistakes." -- Jason Mandes "Have faith in yourself and do not forget the main purpose of your project. It's important who you listen to and who you do not listen to." -- Glenn Tssessaze
VII. LESSONS LEARNEDAbout the projects… "The most important thing I learned is team work. A project is rarely successful if it involves only one person. That person can do an excellent job, but a community project means that more than one person must be involved." -- Brian Gignac "I gained a greater understanding of the difficulty a young person may experience in getting a project off the ground. Also the importance of sticking to personal values--when an organization follows a direction you do not agree with, you have a right to withdraw from that organization." -- Stephanie Maynard "The most important thing I learned is that everyone has assets they can offer any project regardless of whether it is immediately recognizable, and that patience and flexibility allow these assets to become visible over the course of a project." -- Treena Decker ... about themselves "My work this year on this and other projects has shown me that I want to have a career in regional development and has led me to begin a Master's degree in regional development." -- Félix Bussière "I am now better known within the municipality, and social and community agencies. I have improved my public speaking skills, and enrolled people in a project that is very important to me. I have achieved greater confidence in myself and in my ability to complete my projects. I have also improved my knowledge of project planning and funding applications. The more I'm involved [in my community], the greater my inner strength and self-confidence." -- Marie-Eve LaRocque "You have to do things for yourself. You cannot rely on other people all the time. Taking on a community project is very fun and exciting. It is very educational and it will help you to build the skills you will need for the future. It can be very challenging and frustrating but that goes with the territory. The key is not to give up." -- Glenn Tssessaze
VIII. SO, WOULD YOU DO IT ALL AGAIN?Although many of the projects are still ongoing, some participants were asked about whether they thought the entire process was worth it and whether they would attempt to do a community project in the future. They were also asked if they would recommend that other youth from across Canada should get involved or not. Overwhelmingly, they reported that they would recommend that other youth -- or any Canadian for that matter -- should take on a community project if they have the opportunity. They pointed out that being involved in one's community not only leads to a greater sense of personal involvement within a community, but it also gives a sense of helping to shape the future of the community itself. "I'd recommend other youth take on a community project since it's an excellent opportunity to give back to your community. If you want to improve life around you, you must take matters into your own hands." -- Brian Gignac "I would definitely recommend other youth take on a community project because it helps you and the community to grow. You become stronger, learn more and develop personal qualities. You also become known in your community." -- Marie-Eve LaRocque "I would strongly recommend that other youth take on a community project. Seeing any project completed and witnessing the positive impact it can have in a community is going to make anyone extremely proud of their contribution. This feeling will motivate them to continue to find ways of making positive contributions to their community and will help them to recognize how valuable they can be to their community and why it is important for youth to stay in their rural communities." -- Corey T. Parsons "I would strongly recommend that anyone take on a community project. Aside from the immediate benefits that it can have for your community, it can also be a great experience for yourself. Taking on a community project can help you to develop all sorts of skills and qualities that will be of great importance to future career success." -- Jason Mandes
IX. FEATURED PROJECTS
Project Name: Alberta Rural Youth Council Description: The creation of a province-wide organization to involve rural youth in their community. Goals:
Result: This project gave rural youth a voice within their communities, providing a representative body, a forum to exchange ideas, a place to network, and an organization that helped with community-based projects by funding workshops or leadership training in various communities.
Project Name: The Lake Ainslie Development Association's Community Description: LADA, in partnership with the Municipality of the County of Inverness, Human Resources Development Canada, the Co-operatives Secretariat, and the Central Inverness Community Health Board (CHB), is undertaking partnership building, research and awareness building, for the development of a community shared agriculture and local farmers' market. Goal: To create a youth worker/local producer co-operative that will connect consumers and producers of food in an effort to create a bioregional food system. This project aims to build on the historic importance of subsistence agriculture in Cape Breton. Results: This project provided a place for youth to come together and gain valuable experience in community development and co-operative principles. It also helped in reconnecting youth to area elders and the traditional importance of subsistence agriculture to the local area. This assisted in helping youth better understand the food cycle, health and nutrition, and food preparation and processing. In addition, the project enabled additional capacity for health boards within the community. The project enabled local food producers to have access to the community's customer base and local farm market.
CONCLUSIONThe youth who were involved with this lessons learned document have brought their projects from the initial "idea" stage to its conclusion or ongoing operation. What is quite clear is that this process is neither easy nor challenge-free. However, practically all of them indicated they thought the experience was a valuable one. Not only did it increase their sense of community spirit, their projects also fulfilled a specific need in the community. So how about starting your own community project? We would encourage those interested in developing projects in their communities to refer to the Community Project Planning and Evaluation Guide, published by the Government of Canada. You can find this guide online at www.rural.gc.ca, or you can obtain a copy through:
Best of luck!
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