YOUTH civic engagement toolkit 04 Introduction 08 imagination 18 investigation 42 REFLECTION 52 APPENDIX Welcome to the Think Big/ To spark the imagination, Information and ideas on It’s time to reflect on the Eager to learn more? This Start Small youth civic let’s talk about what some of the pressing topics kind of leader you want to toolkit drew inspiration and engagement toolkit! leadership actually is... that concern young women be and what you are able information from a number and girls. to do. of sources. Check them out! And it’s time to recognize the powerful person you already are. 2 3 Many of us want to change the world, we just don’t WHAT Is “CIVIC know where to begin... ENGAGEMENT?” Civic engagement means working to So we had this idea — show make a difference in our communities. young women they have the And it doesn’t require special connections or power — anyone power to tackle major issues with ideas and a plan can do it! Civic in simple ways. engagement is about promoting the quality of life in a community through both political and non- Think Big/Start Small is political processes. By combining our about celebrating what we, knowledge, skills, and motivation with introduction those of others, we can make our as engaged young women, communities better. are able to do, regardless of As the program unfolds, thousands of young where we are and what we women will take part in Think Big/Start Small may have. Even if it seems activities right across Canada — led by Y Act Up councils in 22 communities, led by you and like we have far to go. your friends in other places, led by anyone who wants to participate. It’s about supporting each The first Day of Big Change will launch other as young women to on March 1st, 2013. This Canada-wide day of action is a chance for young women trust our voices, celebrate our everywhere to be heard. The date for this talents, and influence social event was chosen because it is one week Welcome to the Think Big/Start Small change. It’s about committing before March 8th, International Women’s youth civic engagement toolkit! Day (IWD), an annual commemoration that to making a difference. began in the early 1900s. Every year on IWD, thousands of events around the world are Think Big/Start Small is an exciting And it’s about understanding held to celebrate women’s achievements and new project within the Y Act Up inspire new ones. It’s a great example of Think civic engagement as Big/Start Small because all those diverse local program of YWCA Canada. activities connect women around the planet in a learned and fulfilling a powerful way. experience, which in Our own Day of Big Change includes rallies, turn helps all of us feel events, workshops, online features, and more connected to our all kinds of creative actions. The goal is to raise awareness about the power of young communities. women to address key issues and improve our communities. 4 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 5 SO, WHAT’s Y ACT UP? A civic engagement and leadership how IS Y ACT UP MESSAGE FROM PAULETTE program for young women between the FUNDED? ages of 16 and 29. Communities are created; With funding from Canadian Heritage In the fall of 2012, 22 participating (a federal government department) they don’t just happen. YWCA Member Associations across through its Youth Take Charge program. Canada established Y Act Up councils to YWCA Canada was started help young women develop leadership skills, build community, and share their by young women who experiences. If you’re in an area where • improve communication skills wanted to improve their one of these councils exists, be sure to get involved. But even if you’re not, • design initiatives and events around communities and has a there are so many ways to be a part of important issues things. This toolkit will help. long history of supporting • forge support teams young women and girls to Participants in Y Act Up have the opportunity to connect with peers in • mentor younger girls in YWCA become engaged, healthy, communities all over the country on programs a dynamic social networking website: empowered leaders. Y Act • foster appreciation of Canada’s thinkbigstartsmall.ca. It’s the place diversity Up is the perfect follow- to be for all kinds of resources, a up to the tremendous discussion forum to dialogue about • reaffirm connections to community key issues affecting our communities, • grow! explore! influence change! success of our national GirlSpace and Power of Being and to promote our activities and a Girl programs that support and enhance leadership achievements. We hope you will find this toolkit useful. Take advantage of all it has to offer, but There’s so much to gain! development for girls. feel free to make it your own — add to it, Through the Think Big/Start Small project edit things, create new sections. of the Y Act Up program, young women When young women stop and say “my community would Remember, this project is ALL ABOUT like you will: be so much better if…” we all benefit. It is the people who YOU, your community, your ideas. Lead “step up” who define what a community becomes. • build self-esteem and a unique voice the way! • recognize talents and develop I encourage you to take your rightful place, step up, get new ones involved, and create the community you want. • learn how to identify, address, and change problems Think Big. Start Small. • become aware of community issues facing us locally and across Canada Paulette Senior • develop advocacy, planning, and fundraising skills Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Canada 6 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 7 When creating Think Big/Start Small, we asked young women from different communities across Canada what they believe are the characteristics of a great leader. They said: • Active • Altruistic • Analytical • Approachable While in high school in Cambridge, • Caring Ontario, Shazeen decided any child who wants to learn music should be • Confident able to. So she founded the youth-led IMAGINATION and youth-run MusicBox Children’s • Encouraging Charity in 2002. • Engaged Ten years later, over 120 children are • Fair-minded enrolled in MusicBox across Toronto • Generous while 50 volunteers mentor, teach, and take care of curriculum and operations. • Helpful MusicBox partners with the Toronto • Honest District School Board and other local groups to help connect the program to • Humble the people who need it most. WE ARE LEADERS. • Independent MusicBox’s success can be attributed You may have heard the expression “If • Persistent to the core beliefs Shazeen infuses in • Politically aware others: that music can make children you can believe it, you can achieve it.” feel strong when they otherwise don’t, • Resourceful and that music should be accessible to everyone, regardless of means. Well, how about “If you can imagine it, • Strong you can become it”? • Supportive treating others. And each of us is capable of For all of us, that’s the best place to • Trustworthy and Trusting becoming a leader. begin our journeys as leaders. • Welcoming Some people believe leaders are made, not • Willing to share power born. Others believe some of us possess an innate leadership quality. Either way, leaders To spark the imagination, let’s talk are usually inspired by someone or something about what leadership actually is… Leadership is less about “up” (gaining that calls them to do more, to be more. Has access to the top) and more about “deep that ever happened to you? That calling stirs down.” It’s a way of being, seeing, and us for a reason — we need to hear it. 8 IMAGINATION IMAGINATION 9 The inspiration (or calling) to lead can come Leadership in action: SEEING OURSELVES AS LEADERS WHY IS YOUNG WOMEN’s LEADERSHIP from many sources: • leading by example SO IMPORTANT? • an injustice we witnessed or • encouraging/motivating others With so many unattainable images out there heard about of what it means to be appealing, beautiful, Young women’s leadership is essential to • mentoring/teaching • personal experience with an issue or popular, it can be hard for some girls and social change, now and for the future. Our young women to feel positive about being • showing respect belief in our own voices, opinions, and • someone we respect who encourages exactly who we are. power can lead to meaningful participation us to take action Leadership can’t be forced — people have in decision-making. to decide if they want to follow. We gain Building self-confidence is something that • concern about the future of our planet respect as leaders when we respect the happens over a lifetime. Feeling good about Being a young leader can be engagement • our desire for a better world people we work with. who we are and who we’re becoming should in activist actions or it can be an everyday start early. Many factors affect our overall thing. It can mean working within the sense of self-worth and happiness. We have systems and structures already built for us to focus on the powerful effects that come or creating new ones. One of the young from having self-esteem. women consulted for Y Act Up said: So what is self-esteem? It’s how we value “We are all agents of change ourselves; how content we are with who because even if it’s just educating we are. It’s confidence in our abilities and someone on an issue they didn’t comfort in our bodies. It’s pride in our intellect, ideas, and beliefs.