My Cat Makes Me Happy
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNICEF Canada | ONE Youth eCeennanih . MY CAT MAKES ME HAPPY What Children and Youth Say about Measuring their Well-being A As a UN agency, UNICEF is active in 190 countries and This Working Paper was commissioned by UNICEF we have saved more children’s lives than any other Canada as an input to the development and use of data, humanitarian organization. UNICEF Canada is a Canadian measurement and monitoring to advance child and youth non-governmental organization (NGO) established 60 years rights and well-being in Canada. The findings, interpretations ago and is the representative of UNICEF in Canada. We and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the work tirelessly as part of the global UNICEF family to do authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views whatever it takes to ensure that children and young people of UNICEF Canada. The text has not been edited to official survive and thrive, and have every opportunity to reach publications standards and UNICEF Canada accepts no their full potential. Our global reach, unparalleled influence responsibility for errors. with policymakers and diverse partnerships make us an UNICEF Canada thanks all the young people and their adult instrumental force in shaping a world where the rights allies who participated in and facilitated the discussions of all children are realized. For more information about that inform this report. We deeply appreciate the trust and UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca. collaboration of our community hosts and our partners The Students Commission of Canada was founded in 1991 the Students Commission of Canada, the Lyle S. Hallman on the recommendation of young people to put their ideas Foundation, the Lawson Foundation and RBC. Special for improving themselves and their communities into action. recognition is extended to Nishad Khanna, Alli Truesdell, An independent, charitable, non-governmental organization, Sharif Mahdy and Jordi Lanctot of the Students Commission The Students Commission listens intently to young people for the study design, research, workshop implementation and works in partnership with them. It exercises its and authorship of the report. influence by sharing those ideas with organizations, policy Extracts from this publication may be freely reproduced with makers and institutions across Canada. It supports young due acknowledgement. Requests to use larger portions or the people to participate in the activities of local, provincial, full publication should be addressed to . national and international organizations and governments. [email protected] It leads research into effective youth programs through the Centre of Excellence and the Sharing the Stories (StS) To cite this document, we suggest the following form: research and evaluation platform. It supports organizations UNICEF Canada and Students Commission of Canada (2017). and governments to use the research and the voice of My Cat Makes Me Happy: What children and youth say about young people to develop youth engagement strategies. measuring their well-being. Toronto, ON: UNICEF Canada. UNICEF Canada deeply appreciates the support of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation and the Lawson Foundation. www.unicef.ca All photos copyright UNICEF Canada; not for reproduction. Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Background ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Part I: Measuring Youth Well-being in Canada: A synthesis of youth voices .................................................................................. 7 Part II: What Children and Youth Say about Measuring their Well-being: Youth well-being workshops .............................. 8 What we Learned ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Domains, Themes and Indicators .................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Top Three Domains ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Top 10 Themes ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Key Insights ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Measurement Gaps ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Our Process ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 PART I: Measuring Youth Well-being in Canada: A synthesis of youth voices ............................................................................ 23 PART II: What Children and Youth Say about Measuring their Well-being: Youth well-being workshops ......................... 25 About the Youth Well-being Workshops ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 Youth Profile..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Toronto, Ontario .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Manawan, Quebec ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario ....................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Victoria, British Columbia .............................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Whitehorse, Yukon ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Youth Closed Custody Facility ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 National Young Decision-Makers Conference ....................................................................................................................................... 28 Adaptations .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 29 Cultural Inclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Inclusion of Different Abilities ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Inclusion of Youth in a Closed Custody Facility .................................................................................................................................. 30 Inclusion of Francophone Youth ............................................................................................................................................................... 30 Final Thoughts ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Appendix A: List of Stakeholders in Literature Review ........................................................................................................................ 32 Appendix B: Comparison of Youth-identified Domains of Well-being and Selected Surveys of Well-being