WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR? MENTOR TRAINING: Jays Care has hosted 2 Mentor trainings for more than 20 mentors. Each full-day training includes cultural competency workshops, youth empowerment activities, ways to prepare for community visits, psychosocial support resources for mentors and youth and workshops on ways to build meaningful relationships with youth using a variety of social media platforms. MENTOR MATCHING: Each participating community has identified between 2 and 15 youth who are a good fit for the program. Each community has been paired with 1-2 local and 1-2 national mentors. Finding the right mentors can be a challenge and we are always actively recruiting both local and national mentors who can live the 5 C s of the program (CARE COURAGE CONNECTION - CREATIVITY- COMMITMENT) RETREATS: 2 week-long retreats have been hosted. One in Timmins in February and one in Mattawa in October. Youth Champions Mentors Elders and Support workers External Facilitators Supporting Organizations RETREAT ONE 58 (ages 12-23) RETREAT TWO 78 (ages 11 20) 31 27 6 8 2 (Crafts, Active games, Play to Heal, Vital Connections) 4 (Plan Canada, OPACY, Mushkegowuck and Jays Care) 9 (Dance, Cheerleading, Sexual Health, Cultural Crafts, Clogging, Camp Fire, Music) 5 (OPCAY, Mushkegowuck, Right To Play, Canadore College and Jays Care) of mentors and chaperones said the Retreat made a positive impact on the Youth Champions. of youth said they learnt new skills 97% 80% to better care for themselves and for peers of youth said the Retreat made them feel like they have more peers and adults that they can rely Thanks to everyone who made the week amazing! I had such a good time. Felt like myself for the first time in a while. I'm so happy I got to come again. I enjoyed everything we did and reuniting with friends and making new ones I'm missing all you guys so much, can't wait to see all of you at the next retreat! Youth Champion Thank you...to all the people who brought Girls@Bat together, you girls for showing up and being you, for all the work and leadership, for those who've given support and special gifts, for the trust and connection and for all the fun and love! Thinking of you girls and women often since the retreat...taking time to process all the beautiful and challenging and move into regular life again. Local Mentor
COMMUNITY VISITS BY MENTORS AND JAYS CARE STAFF: All 9 communities received a visit from Jays Care staff and/or National Mentors. These visits were an opportunity for: Youth Champions to take their Mentors on a community tour and to introduce them to important people in their lives; Mentors to participate in cultural activities such as a sweat lodge or teaching; Meetings with Chief and Council to talk about their local Girls At Bat program, and to gain insight on how the program can be the most meaningful for their community; Bonding activities with Youth Champion teams dinner, spa night, games or team cheers; and Meetings about next steps and Youth Champion program plans. Mentors to lead activities with the youth and to participate in Youth Champions weekly programing; YOUTH-LED PROGRAMMING: Youth Champions have organized and led over 90 events reaching close to in their communities 200 children as a result of the program. Below are just a few examples of exciting events they have run: Soccer baseball evening programs led by Youth Champions in Attawapiskat: Approximately 25 children have attended this program (that was hosted on 7 different nights). Winter Carnivals hosted by Youth Champions in Taykwa Tagamou and Wahgoshig First Nations: Carnivals included a series of fun winter-activities (i.e. snow-shoe races, log-sawing, tea-boiling, toboganning) for the whole community. Arts and Crafts and games nights hosted by Youth Champions in Chapleau Cree: Children aged 5 to 10 years old attended a series of nights that included fun circle games and creative crafts Spa Night hosted by Youth Champions in Kashechewan First Nation: Girls aged 10-12 attended a spa night at the school hosted by 2 youth champions where they got their nails painted, put on face-masks and participated in lip synchs ON-GOING COMMUNICATION:
CLINICS AND OTHER AMAZING OPPORTUNI- TIES FOR YOUTH CHAMPIONS Wahgoshig was the first community to complete 10 youth-led events and host a reward clinic. Their clinic was a 2-day Hip Hop for Healing workshop that was attended by 25 children and youth in the community. Youth Champion Ariana Koostachin (Taykwa Tagamou) received a Rogers Scholarship to pursue her goals in Early Childhood Education at Canadaore College as a result of her involvement in the program. Youth Champions Karissa Koostachin, Gina Matinas, Syvanna Koostachin (all from Attawapiskat) have been selected to join the Crisis Response Youth Team (a new initiative captained by Ontario Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth) 7 Youth Champions were identified as Retreat MVP s. Each will earn a special reward throughout the year. Below are two examples: Youth Champions Lauren Edwards (Taykwa Tagamou), Chelsea Anderson (Wapekeka) and Tamer Mckay (Wapekeka) were selected to represent Nishnawbe Aski Nation as part of a youth delegation going to Ottawa to speak to the Prime Minister. Youth Champions Melina Hunter (Peawanuck) and Ceylinda Winter (Wapekeka) were selected to feature in Jays Care s annual advertising campaign representing the James Bay Girls at Bat Youth Champions. WHAT S COMING UP? RETREAT DESIGN COMMITTEE: Youth Champions are being invited to form the next Retreat Design Committee MONTHLY CHALLENGES: Challenges are being posted each month for Youth Champion teams to complete. Once completed, teams will be awarded GAB points. These points can be cashed into the Jays Care store for prizes and opportunities with Jays Care. MENTOR VISITS: Mentors are planning their next trips to see their Youth Champion teams where they will have the opportunity to participate in programming and learn about the girl s community. RETREAT #3: James Bay Girls at Bat participants will reunite for another opportunity to learn and practice the 5Cs CARE, COURAGE, CONNECTION CREATIVITY and COMMITMENT.