A group of young Airdronians picked up garbage in Airdrie on Saturday.
Members of "Off The Grid Youth", used their Saturday to clean playgrounds and yards of residents in the Bayside neighbourhood.
According to the group's website, "Off The Grid Youth" strives to equip youth and young adults with the tools they need to prepare them for gainful employment and personal success.
"We provide a safe space for our group to express themselves and be themselves and we work with them so they become an active, giving part of their community and other communities around them."
Sean Hasson, a local realtor with Pursuit Reality Group organized the cleaning event and talked about how he worked with Abe Mawoyo (who runs "Off The Grid Youth") to organize the kids to help clean.
"He mentors and encourages these kids with public speaking gives them leadership skills, helps them prepare for interviews for part-time jobs, and he helps them find and harness their strengths. Due to this, it's helped these kids recognize and develop a real sense of community pride and a willingness and desire to give back to their community."
Hasson explained he was monitoring social media to see where they should clean watching for where people bring up the most concerns.
"We were able to clean up two parks and playgrounds and a large green space in Bayside and Bayview, as well as several Bayside residence yards.
"They raked leaves, they cleaned up the garbage and even mowed a couple lots."
He also shared that once they were done, the kids had a pizza party to celebrate what they accomplished.
"It was just amazing to see the sense of pride in caring the kids showed for their neighbours and community. It made us proud. We hope it's just the first of many events we can partake in together."
When asked about what he heard from residents who saw the kids doing yard work, he stated they were all impressed.
"Oftentimes, the kids get a bit of a bad rap these days, but they were just impressed to see kids taking initiative and a sense of pride in their community."
To learn more about "Off The Grid Youth" in Airdrie, click HERE.
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