THE
PROGRAM
[top]
Established in 1991, The Students
Commission is a non-profit organization that brings
together 200 youth, from across Canada, to discuss issues
and write a National Report at an annual conference in
the Ottawa region.
In just under 5 years, The Students
Commission has created a positive proactive forum for
young people to direct and influence public policy, plus
a program to assist them to take action on issues
themselves. They have presented their National Reports to
the Prime Minister, the Governor-General, Cabinet
Ministers, Provincial Premiers and leaders of business,
education, community and labour.
The Students Commission provides a
national policy forum and leadership training venue for
all Canadian students. It is not a "leadership" program
for elite students, but actively recruits among those
youth not usually chosen for national conferences. The
Commission starts from the premise that every student has
ideas that can make a difference if they are given the
framework and the tools.
At the conference, considerable
effort is spent on helping youth to practise the
communication process: learning to listen and learning to
understand another point of view. More time and effort is
also spent by the youth delegates, recognizing the
reality of language barriers and developing creative
hands-on solutions to overcome them. Media training,
report preparation and cultural workshops run by youth
for youth are part of the conference, which is organized
and executed by returning youth delegates from previous
years.
THE
IMPACT
[top]
These high school students have
published 15 major National Youth Reports, published an
anti-racism guide, implemented hundreds of in-school
programs, workshops, and youth training initiatives, and
reached more than 14.4 million people through their media
and presentation campaigns.
Student Commissioners have won
recognition awards in almost every province for their
efforts, including a Governor General's award, YTV Public
Service Award, 3 Lincoln Alexander Anti-racism Awards, a
Canadian Human Rights Achievement Award, and numerous
provincial citizenship and youth of the year
awards.
THE
YEAR-LONG PROGRAM
[top]
After the national conference, the
youth delegates return to their communities to share what
they learned, consult with other youth and mobilize other
youth in executing their ideas. The delegates work all
year long in their communities and schools, implementing
personal action plans and advising The Students
Commission's Planning Committee. The delegates also
participate in various projects of the Commission, such
as developing "Nobody's Born a Racist", a Guide to
Equity, and doing consultations for our report on social
reforms, "Your Future, Your Decision - Youth Speak out on
Social Reforms".
SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT
[top]
Through Tiny Giant Magazine
Publishing, youth learn communications technology skills,
Internet, and video conferencing techniques, publishing,
marketing and other transferable skills relevant to all
areas of their lives.
THE
ADMINISTRATION
[top]
The Students Commission has been
developed by a National Planning Committee comprising
senior Student Commissioners, Optimist Club members, TG
Magazine staff and volunteer educators.
THE
INTERNATIONAL SCENE
[top]
Student Commissioners have helped
establish Canada Youth-speak International to give youth
in Canada a chance to influence United Nations and
international policy. Two Students Commissioners attended
the World Summit on Social Development in March 1995, and
three Student Commissioners the UN 50 conference, in
January in Toronto. A team went to cover the G-7 Summit
from a youth perspective with Auburn Air Student Media
Services. Another commissioner is running a workshop at
the Global Youth Forum in San Francisco. Two more
Commissioners have been accredited for the Women's World
Summit in Beijing and are being prepped to make an
impact. [more]
