As the Victoria FoundationB次元官网网址檚 celebrates 20 years of connecting Greater Victoria youth to their community, students in 12 schools delivered a total of $33,000 in funding to 15 organizations across Southern Vancouver Island.
Yet the impact of the Vital Youth program is so much greater than the grants awarded.
Each year, the Foundation allocates each student group $3,000 to grant to local registered charities of their choice, in addition to an annual $500 grant also added to an endowment fund for each participating school, to help ensure a sustainable source of grant funds. Students use a variety of tools to research critical issues in their communities, including the Victoria FoundationB次元官网网址檚 Vital Signs Report, the , and the Truth and . They conduct site visits and interviews with organizations before convening as a student group to decide which organizations they grant the funds to.
Nearly 700 students have participated in the Vital Youth program since 2003, awarding 347 grants to 153 organizations, for a total of $400,082.
Beyond dollars given, however, the program inspires the next generation of philanthropists and community leaders who will be instrumental in guiding our community in the future.
B次元官网网址淔or a long time, I connected philanthropy to wealth. In my mind a philanthropist was a rich person who donated their money to charity,B次元官网网址� said Wren Kerslake, a 2019 Vital Youth participant from Victoria High School.
B次元官网网址淚t has been two years since I first became a part of Vital Youth and during this time have learned many lessons. This program has left me, and, I believe, all the students who participate, with a feeling of hope and intrigue B次元官网网址� we have been given the knowledge that we are able to be a part of something we thought was out of our reach. I think that the powerful thing about giving once is that it makes you feel like you can do it again.B次元官网网址�
Throughout the programB次元官网网址檚 20-year history, youth have stepped forward as leaders, says Victoria Foundation CEO Sandra Richardson. B次元官网网址淚t is inspiring to see them engage with the organizations working to address various issues and see youth carry this leadership back to their schools, families and communities.B次元官网网址�
Vital Youth is also a concrete way to empower youth to take action on causes that matter to them. Organizations funded for 2022/23 year ranged from the Broadmead Care Society and Compost Education Centre to the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness and Victoria Youth Clinic Society.
B次元官网网址淭he program has allowed me to connect further with my community and really learn about the different ways in which Victoria is thriving, and the ways in which it is not,B次元官网网址� said Christine Camaso, a three-year Vital Youth participant from Belmont Secondary School, who says the program helped her feel empowered and valued as a young person. B次元官网网址淭he many causes to care about within this city is overwhelming, but in the best way possible. IB次元官网网址檝e learned about a number of diverse organizations working in this city to change it for the better and met many other like-minded youth along the way.B次元官网网址�
The experience also informs future choices: B次元官网网址淏eing in this program, I now understand the importance of giving back to your community,B次元官网网址� reflected Mack Edwards, a 2011 Vital Youth participant from Belmont High School. B次元官网网址淎nd when IB次元官网网址檓 75 IB次元官网网址檒l still be giving. You can count on it.B次元官网网址�
to learn more about the Vital Youth program.
Help guide the community today B次元官网网址� and tomorrow
One of the key tools students use in the program is VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Vital Signs Report, an annual snapshot of where the Capital Region is succeeding and where itB次元官网网址檚 facing challenges. The report is informed both by local statistics and by the annual B次元官网网址� open to everyone in our community to weigh with their experiences and perceptions. This yearB次元官网网址檚 survey is open until June 2 and features both short and longer options B次元官网网址� to have your say today!