A youth-focused research project is coming to Wood Buffalo via the ResiliencebyDesign (RbD) Research Innovation Lab at Royal Roads University.
The project, “Youth Voices Rising” was created to share young people’s ideas for the wildfire recovery process.
Dr. Robin Cox, the RbD Lab Director, explained, “Young people’s engagement is vital in disaster recovery and resilience planning; especially when they can conduct their own research, define their own solutions, and are provided with supportive and meaningful opportunities to influence decision-making and policy.”
On May 13, an initial outreach to young people between the ages of 14-24 will deliver the initial the social media campaign to be launched in the Fall.
The campaign centers on the question “If you had all the power, how would you make life better in your community?”
The answers young people share through photos, videos and other social media platforms will help show what the youth vision for Wood Buffalo’s recovery and rebuilding.
The Youth Voice Rising project, funded by the Canadian Red Cross, is designed to work alongside Wood Buffalo youth to explore where youth voices are already being heard, and where they think youth voice could be stronger in recovery planning.
“We’ve found after other disasters that young people have often lacked the power and official channels to share their perspectives, concerns and ideas. Because of this, they can remain an underrepresented stakeholder in the recovery process despite strong evidence on the benefits to communities who actively engage youth in decision-making,” Dr. Cox said. “However, when given opportunities, youth can actively contribute to their own recovery and to the recovery of those people and places around them,”
The concerns, ideas and conversations the campaign sparks will form the basis of the project moving forward over the coming year.
The event on May 13 will be from 10:30 a.m. till 2:20 p.m. at The Art Foundry, 8130 Fraser Ave.
The event is hosted in collaboration with the Meicholas Art Foundation in Fort McMurray, and young people can sign up online.
