Tuesday is International Youth Day.
To celebrate the occasion, the YMCA-YWCA in Winnipeg is opening its doors to youth aged 13-17 for free drop-in access at all of its community hubs across the city on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
"Youth are at the heart of our mission," said Wendy Shewchuk, manager, Downtown Y Community Hub. "Whether it’s through recreation, leadership development, or employment opportunities, we’re committed to empowering young people to reach their full potential and become changemakers in their communities."
The hope is to encourage youth in building skills, confidence and connections, and to create inclusive spaces where they can help develop young leaders.
"Young people have incredible potential," adds Shewchuk. "Our role is to create opportunities, remove barriers, and walk alongside them as they grow into the leaders our communities need."
Some of the programs that the Y offers to support youth include Open Y, which provides free access to teens during designated times to use recreation and fitness equipment. They also offer a young leadership program and newcomer youth employment support.
International Youth Day was established by the United Nations to raise awareness of youth issues worldwide and to celebrate the potential of young people as partners in today’s global society.