NYCEP youth participation a huge success
The NunatuKavut Youth Community Engagement Project (NYCEP) was developed for youth living in NunatuKavut between the ages of 15 and 30. Youth learn a variety of multi-media skills to help tell stories about community life and Inuit culture, traditions and history through photography, videography and journalism. The goal of NYCEP is to increase civic engagement by providing youth with meaningful volunteer service opportunities, while promoting mutual understanding and respect between Inuit and non-Inuit youth. This project is coordinated through NunatuKavut Community Council’s (NCC) Health and Social department.
Year two of NYCEP clues up the end of April 2021. To date, 45 youth have been involved, contributing to nearly 6,000 volunteer hours in their NunatuKavut communities. These youth have been involved in the production of 50 videos, two of which are the much loved Christmas Memories from NunatuKavut seniors and NunatuKavut Inuit and the Dog Team.
NCYEP staff are looking forward to year three of the project and are currently recruiting new volunteers. If you are a youth aged 15-30 and want to be involved in this exciting project, please get in touch with our Community Youth Coordinators:
- Nikita Bradley at nbradley@nunatukavut.ca OR
- Wanda Lee Mesher at wmesher@nunatukavut.ca
Youth have found there are numerous benefits in engaging in community service projects, both for themselves and others. Below are some of the key benefits of volunteering with NYCEP:
- Gives you a way to help others;
- Helps improve your community;
- Provides you with hands-on training in photography, videography and storytelling;
- Gives you volunteer experience;
- Helps to strengthen your resume;
- Provides you with opportunities to meet new friends; and
- Often results in personal growth.
“I signed up out of curiosity to explore what I could learn from NYCEP. I never imagined I would learn everything that I did. I found out that I really enjoy creating videos and the knowledge I have learned has brought me so many opportunities with various organizations and work opportunities. Wanda Lee and Nikita have taught me so much and were so helpful. I cannot say enough good about this project!”
– Megan Chatman, NYCEP youth volunteer in Labrador West
NYCEP youth are continually creating videos, which can be viewed on our NunatuKavut YouTube channel.
The deadline to apply to be part of the next group of NYCEP youth is April 30, 2021.