Hope for Gabriola Youth
In November 2011, the start of an eight-month program created for our island youth called the Grade 7 HOPE program began. This program was developed nine years ago in response to some challenges Gabriola youth were facing.
HOPE stands for “Hands On Prevention and Education” and is offered one hour per week to our local Grade 7 class. The HOPE program interacts with youth through the perspective of prevention, building up our kids to be confident and know that they have value, giving them the tools to face life’s challenges and helping them identify the supports they already have and how to increase support in areas where needed. The focus of this program is not on the specific challenges that they may or may not face, but rather to educate, motivate and facilitate youth’s understanding on the power of making personal choices. To create the core framework for this program, Jessica Plante used research resources from The Search Institute, and with help from local youth has made this program enjoyable and effective.
Gabriola Youth face challenges when just saying “no” doesn’t work. The HOPE program acknowledges that the teen years are an important time of development when youth define who they are and how to make choices for themselves. The HOPE program content is designed to heighten self-awareness and to get them thinking about how they can self-monitor and potentially increase their own resiliency.
The program is currently run by Alisha Okum and Kathy Lasby from the Gathering Place Youth Centre and two volunteer teen peer helpers with the support of Brenda Peacock, the Grade 7 teacher at Gabriola Elementary School. The program is always offered free for the youth to attend and has been funded through donations and grants. Last year the Gabriola PAC generously donated $1,000. Our local RCMP have donated $500 towards this year. A big thank you to these local supporters!
Cst. Chris caldwell of the Gabriola RCMP presents Kathy and Alisha with $500 for the HOPE program. Derek Kilbourn photo