Parkdale Newcomer Youth Committee (PNYC)
The Parkdale Newcomer Youth Committee is initiated and coordinated by the Youth Program of Parkdale Community Information Centre (PCIC) & Parkdale Intercultural Association (PIA) partnership. The program is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Parkdale Newcomer Youth Committee (PNYC)’s mission is for youth to have their voices heard so that they can help design and plan the youth program activities to meet the needs of the youth. The committee offers a platform for the youth to get more engaged in the youth community and community at large by taking on leadership roles. The committee members are volunteer youth members for a one year term; they contribute their time and skills to help their peers and especially newcomer youth. One third of the members stay on for the second year term to guide the new entrants to the leadership group.
By coming together as a group and working as a team, the committee brings up youth issues, put forth ideas, suggestions, support the program activities and come up with new project ideas to help meet the needs of the youth in Parkdale and newcomer youth in particular. As the youth members take on these various roles, they develop new skills and experience that bring them to the next level in becoming future leaders.
PNYC members commit approx. 5 to 10 hours a month. They are provided with community leadership trainings throughout the year. The leadership training workshops are open to all youth participants; those who complete the series of workshops and fulfill their PNYC membership commitments receive a completion certificate of Youth Community Leadership at our annual AGM (Annual General Meeting). Every year we honour about 15 youth leaders through the leadership development program.
Current main activities the group members engage in are the following:
Youth Leadership Skills Development – newcomer youth participants come together to improve their communication skills, confidence, presentation skills, problem solving, leadership, team work and other employability or life skills. PNYC members participate as project team members, tutors or newcomer peer mentor/supporter. They get hands-on experience through an interactive learning platform via youth projects that helps in removing many of their critical barriers such as communication, public speaking, isolation, role models and networking. Some of the workshops provided so far ranged from healthy eating, tobacco awareness, youth leadership, anti-racism, effective social media, documentary film making, outreach, communication and pre-employment skills.
Peer Tutoring Club (Fridays) – The PNYC members are the main peer tutors of the club although other volunteer tutors are recruited on a regular basis as per initiatives and interest by the youth. The participants are mainly immigrant and at-risk youth who need support and help in their homework/assignments. The club also serves as a space to learn additional skills such as communication, team dynamics, community engagement etc., through the ongoing youth projects. The club also teaches basic computer/technical skills such as key boarding, word, PowerPoint, online research, job search/applications.
Projects by Parkdale Newcomer Youth Committee (PNYC) since 2010
PNYC members meet once a month to talk about the program activities and how best to tailor them to the needs of newcomer youths. The meetings include focus group discussions to help identify the youth needs and development goals. Focus group sessions are held quarterly to verify how we could further improve the youth program activities and make it more relevant to the youth. Youth members also participate actively in talking about and helping formulate new projects. The members take on leadership roles in new projects and get trained in acquiring important skills throughout their term. Every year during PCIC’s AGM, on average 15 youth graduate with a Youth Community Leadership Certificate for their dedication and hard work in supporting peer youth and community through program’s activities and projects.
Some of the achievements from the PNYC include:
1) Youth program policy initially drafted by the 2010 PNYC members and subsequently updated annually by new term members
2) Annual review of youth program activities intake assessment
3) Four youth health advocacy project grants related to Smoke-free recreation and movies by Toronto Public Health from 2010-2013 (https://sites.google.com/site/smokefreeheroes/)
4) One girls-only physical activity pilot - project (Girls Active for Health) grant from CAAWS in 2012 (https://sites.google.com/site/girlsactive4health/)
5) Online newsletter, Youth S.P.A.R.K – (www.youthspark.weebly.com)
6) Youth Media Project Parkdale (YMPP) is the social media wing of the newcomer youth program with active leadership from PNYC members. The media project showcases all the projects via videos, web, face book, twitter and other social media channels. (http://youthspark.weebly.com/youth-media-project.html)
Parkdale Newcomer Youth Committee (PNYC)’s mission is for youth to have their voices heard so that they can help design and plan the youth program activities to meet the needs of the youth. The committee offers a platform for the youth to get more engaged in the youth community and community at large by taking on leadership roles. The committee members are volunteer youth members for a one year term; they contribute their time and skills to help their peers and especially newcomer youth. One third of the members stay on for the second year term to guide the new entrants to the leadership group.
By coming together as a group and working as a team, the committee brings up youth issues, put forth ideas, suggestions, support the program activities and come up with new project ideas to help meet the needs of the youth in Parkdale and newcomer youth in particular. As the youth members take on these various roles, they develop new skills and experience that bring them to the next level in becoming future leaders.
PNYC members commit approx. 5 to 10 hours a month. They are provided with community leadership trainings throughout the year. The leadership training workshops are open to all youth participants; those who complete the series of workshops and fulfill their PNYC membership commitments receive a completion certificate of Youth Community Leadership at our annual AGM (Annual General Meeting). Every year we honour about 15 youth leaders through the leadership development program.
Current main activities the group members engage in are the following:
Youth Leadership Skills Development – newcomer youth participants come together to improve their communication skills, confidence, presentation skills, problem solving, leadership, team work and other employability or life skills. PNYC members participate as project team members, tutors or newcomer peer mentor/supporter. They get hands-on experience through an interactive learning platform via youth projects that helps in removing many of their critical barriers such as communication, public speaking, isolation, role models and networking. Some of the workshops provided so far ranged from healthy eating, tobacco awareness, youth leadership, anti-racism, effective social media, documentary film making, outreach, communication and pre-employment skills.
Peer Tutoring Club (Fridays) – The PNYC members are the main peer tutors of the club although other volunteer tutors are recruited on a regular basis as per initiatives and interest by the youth. The participants are mainly immigrant and at-risk youth who need support and help in their homework/assignments. The club also serves as a space to learn additional skills such as communication, team dynamics, community engagement etc., through the ongoing youth projects. The club also teaches basic computer/technical skills such as key boarding, word, PowerPoint, online research, job search/applications.
Projects by Parkdale Newcomer Youth Committee (PNYC) since 2010
PNYC members meet once a month to talk about the program activities and how best to tailor them to the needs of newcomer youths. The meetings include focus group discussions to help identify the youth needs and development goals. Focus group sessions are held quarterly to verify how we could further improve the youth program activities and make it more relevant to the youth. Youth members also participate actively in talking about and helping formulate new projects. The members take on leadership roles in new projects and get trained in acquiring important skills throughout their term. Every year during PCIC’s AGM, on average 15 youth graduate with a Youth Community Leadership Certificate for their dedication and hard work in supporting peer youth and community through program’s activities and projects.
Some of the achievements from the PNYC include:
1) Youth program policy initially drafted by the 2010 PNYC members and subsequently updated annually by new term members
2) Annual review of youth program activities intake assessment
3) Four youth health advocacy project grants related to Smoke-free recreation and movies by Toronto Public Health from 2010-2013 (https://sites.google.com/site/smokefreeheroes/)
4) One girls-only physical activity pilot - project (Girls Active for Health) grant from CAAWS in 2012 (https://sites.google.com/site/girlsactive4health/)
5) Online newsletter, Youth S.P.A.R.K – (www.youthspark.weebly.com)
6) Youth Media Project Parkdale (YMPP) is the social media wing of the newcomer youth program with active leadership from PNYC members. The media project showcases all the projects via videos, web, face book, twitter and other social media channels. (http://youthspark.weebly.com/youth-media-project.html)
PNYC 2013 Members
Sayuri Guruge, Tsewang Dhargyal, Chunku, Tenzin Namsel, Bipin Aasi ,Tenzin Yangchen, Tenzin Rangdol, Tenzin Samphel, Abina Ganeshamoorthy, Thakshi Selvakumarasingam, , Tenzin Namsel, Sonam Lhadon, Tenzin Dickey, Tenzin Singye, Tenzing Dolkar, Nick Singh, Mohit Aasi
Pnyc 2012 Members
Ngawang Rigden Lhawang, Tsewang Dhargyal, Tenzin Dudoul, Tenzin Choeyang, Bipin Aasi, Tenzin Namsel,
Sayuri Guruge, Tenzin Tsepak, Saga Al-Ali, Nushin Davlat Nazar, Jaaishree Nirmal, Tenzin Choezin, Mohani Nirmal
,Ailafate Aihemaiti, Namdol lama, Chamath Guruge, Wilson Ngu and Tsering Dolma
Sayuri Guruge, Tenzin Tsepak, Saga Al-Ali, Nushin Davlat Nazar, Jaaishree Nirmal, Tenzin Choezin, Mohani Nirmal
,Ailafate Aihemaiti, Namdol lama, Chamath Guruge, Wilson Ngu and Tsering Dolma
Pnyc 2011 Members
Vinothan Sarvananthan, Tenzing Palzom, Tenzin Thabkhae, Tenzin Bhuti, Ngawang Rigden Lhawang,
Karma Gyatso, Tsewang Dhargyal, Abisarikka Pillaiyinar, Anastasia Mangar, Vinoth Sachchithanandan,
Tharshigan Kamarakulosingam, Tenzin Choewang, Tenzin Dudoul, Dhazee Tenzin, Phuntsok Chomphel,
Bramooth Yuvarajan, Thanushan Kulasegaram, Norsang Tenzin, Ailafate Aihemaiti & Marie Karimizadeh
Karma Gyatso, Tsewang Dhargyal, Abisarikka Pillaiyinar, Anastasia Mangar, Vinoth Sachchithanandan,
Tharshigan Kamarakulosingam, Tenzin Choewang, Tenzin Dudoul, Dhazee Tenzin, Phuntsok Chomphel,
Bramooth Yuvarajan, Thanushan Kulasegaram, Norsang Tenzin, Ailafate Aihemaiti & Marie Karimizadeh
Pnyc 2010 members
Harshita Patel, Itanbi Shrestha, Karma Tsetar, Nicola Hankova, Norbu Tsering, Paulo Devlin, Tashi Lhamo, Tenzin Bhuti, Tenzin Choesang, Tenzin Dolkar, Tenzin Mibom, Tenzin Thabkhae, Tenzin Thinley, Tenzin Wangchuk, Tenzing Kalden, Tenzing Palzom, Vinothan Sarvananthan, Dolkar Negi