A London organization that builds teen confidence while getting them involved in politics has been given a financial boost.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation announced Friday it is giving the London Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) $252,600, over three years.
LYAC Board Chair, Nick Soave, says the grant will be used to fund a variety of programs for young people in the community.
"The biggest program that we provide is running the youth council, so those are the 15 councillors in all of the wards in London who represent their youth constituents. That is the main place where this funding will be going," says Soave. "We are going to work with business, non-profit, and government who are ready to work with young people, even more than they already are, so we can better engage youth in our public process."
Soave adds the money will also provide some stability for the organization over the next three years.
"The very first way this organization was funded was off of our co-founders credit card, which isn't a very sustainable way to be funded. We got our first grant shortly after that and this is our second," says Soave. "This gives us a platform to find that sustainability within our organization, find potentially a revenue stream or to make that hard decision whether this is a grant funded organization until the end. This gives us three years to determine that and come up with a very solid plan."
Deputy Premier Deb Matthews was on-hand for the announcement. She commended the LYAC on its work getting youth to express their thoughts and opinions with all levels of government.
"Things that are priorities for young people tend not to be the priorities for older people. Our society is undergoing tremendous change right now, the focus on the environment is something our government is really committed to, tackling climate change. That's very strongly supported by young people," says Matthews. "As people get older though, they worry less about that issue and more about issues that effect their pocket book. Young people are really thinking about the future because they are going to live the future."
The LYAC has 15 youths representing the city's 14 wards and the Western University campus. Each councillor is elected for a one year term. During that time they work on various initiatives within the city, receive training from city staff and community leaders, and represent their generation throughout the city at political events and meetings.
