Students to host Eclipse Art Market and Music Festival to benefit local charity
High school students continue project through support of ACCESS, plan to host event and raise money for the community
At YMAD 6, the latest edition of ACCESS' annual Youth Making a Difference Conference, high school students were challenged to create solutions to social issues within their local community. The ACCESS team selected 3 student projects, all of which were developed from scratch during the one-day conference, to support and be executed in their schools. The groups received funds and mentorship from ACCESS to develop and fully implement their projects in the 2013-2014 school year – in one case, even continuing into the 2014-2015 year.
One of the student participants, Camilla, created unique illustrations to customize items (coffee cups, mugs, shirts) which then used to raise funds and awareness by her peers in The Givers, a student group created at YMAD 6 from St. Edmund Campion Secondary School.
This project has evolved with the ongoing support of their dedicated teachers including Mr. Manuel Cordeiro and school Guidance Department's Mr. Weatherbee, and an event is being held to showcase and raise funds for charity.
The Eclipse Art and Music Festival will be held on Saturday, February 28 from 10 am – 3 pm. The Talent Show will take place from 12 pm – 2 pm. Live Art and Music and an Art Market will feature shirts, buttons, paintings, prints stickers and more, to support the cause. Tickets are on sale for $5 at the door.
All proceeds being donated to Knights Table – a local non-profit providing food bank, hot meals and related assistance to citizens of Peel Region who deal with the daily issues of poverty. The students have chosen to utilize their project funding from ACCESS to raise additional funds to give right back to the community.
ACCESS' annual Youth Making a Difference Conference received a Social Good Design Award for YMAD6.
Students develop social good projects at 6th Youth Making a Difference Conference
On November 13, ACCESS hosted its 6th Youth Making a Difference Conference. The event provided a unique opportunity for high school students in the Peel Region, consistent with all components of "Educate, Empower, Inspire".
The Fall 2013 Youth Making a Difference Conference was re-designed to be fast-paced, exciting, and highly participatory, where students learned and practiced skills needed for social action.
The event featured activities, stories and instructions to help students start socially-focused projects, and was hosted by the ACCESS team at the Brampton Community Door. Students worked in smaller groups and produced tangible results.
Students were exposed to and gained experience in Organizational Development (lead by Student Leadership Development Coordinator David Ip Yam), Organizational Branding (lead by Designer Daniel Francavilla), Concept Development and Brainstorming (lead by Designer and Engineer Damon Pfaff), and Press Release and Social Media Planning (lead by Non-Profit Consultant Shaneeza Nazseer). These facilitators were on-hand to guide students through their projects.
The conference was beneficial to youth with a variety of interests and passions. Students interested in social justice, local and global activism, social entrepreneurship, and in starting their own projects found valuable resources at YMAD6. The conference incorporated creativity, design, business, strategy, and community service.
A goal was for students to experience a sense of community and collaboration in a fast-paced environment, while working towards a positive outcome.
"It was an amazing conference. My students came back pumped and inspired," was the feedback received by an educator who has attended several ACCESS events with students. "Thanks for your continued leadership and direction."
Students taking action beyond the conference
Student concepts were evaluated and winning projects have been selected from John Cabot Secondary School in Mississauga and St. Edmund Campion Secondary School in Brampton. These groups will be working with ACCESS and their schools to have their projects developed and turned into action this year.
"There is a huge benefit for students to both brainstorm and develop projects as a team and then have the ability and support to execute them," said Daniel Francavilla, ACCESS Executive Director.
"We are committed to helping these students create social change in their community, using their own skills and interests."
ACCESS will be sharing the details and stories of the student projects in the coming months.
For more photos from the conference, visit this gallery on the ACCESS Facebook Page.