YMCA celebrates International Youth Day

By Lethbridge Herald on August 12, 2024.

Local youth take part in activities on Monday at the YMCA Lethbridge rec room to celebrate International Youth Day. Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The YMCA Lethbridge celebrated International Youth Day on Monday with multiple activities to show youth in the community they are appreciated. 

International Youth Day is an awareness day designated by the United Nations. It is set to take place every August 12 with the purpose of drawing attention to cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. This year is the 24th anniversary of International Youth Day. 

Justice Thompson, Child and Youth Programs manager at the Y, said they wanted to make sure youth were celebrated as their age group is not one that is usually highlighted. 

“We wanted to make sure that they get celebrated just like international child day gets celebrated in the city. There’s not many community partners that do anything for International Youth Day, so we wanted to make sure that our youth knew they are welcome here and that we care about them,” said Thompson. 

To help youth be able to participate in the activities, Thompson said they were offering youth day passes for $5 to be able to use the facilities, but the recreation room where many of the activities were taking place was free to enter. 

“We have food trucks in the north parking lot from 12 to 8 p.m. And in the rec room we have activities like bracelet making and button making,” said Thompson. 

She said other partner organizations such as the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, the Lethbridge Public Library and Lethbridge Family Services were providing activities for youth as well in the rec room. 

“We also have DJ Rat-tat-tat-tat in the pool from 6 to 8 p.m. Who will playing some music for the youth to hang out in the pool,” said Thompson. 

When talking about the opportunity to celebrate youth in the community, Thompson said it is a big honour to be able to do it and they were very happy that other organizations were joining them.

“We know that youth are important to this community and I think sometimes we forget to celebrate them. We usually just focus on the supports that they need and all that, so we wanted to have a fun day,” said Thompson. 

She said in addition to that, they wanted youth to realize that the community does care about them, loves them and is here to help foster them to become grown adults. 

“We did our first celebration in 2019, I think, and we haven’t done one since with COVID and everything like that, so we wanted to make sure that we got back to doing that this year,” said Thompson. 

Since the International Youth Day is set by the UN, they decide on the theme and this year’s theme was “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.” 

“The only digital thing that we’re doing today is a Mario Kart tournament, just because we don’t have any of those resources,” said Thompson. 

In a statement to media about International Youth Day, Alberta Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides said “young Albertans are the future leaders of our province. From the students of the Minister’s Youth Council, who advocate and share their input and perspectives on provincial programs and initiatives, to the students who actively make their schools and communities better, young Albertans play a pivotal role in our education system.

“We will continue to ensure that young Albertans have the education they need to succeed in the classroom and in life after school. By enhancing school mental health supports and career education opportunities, our government is doing its part to ensure students are part of a world-class education system that builds their fundamental life skills and abilities as they grow into adulthood.

“I encourage Albertans to continue supporting our province’s youth in making their voices heard, reflecting on the remarkable contributions they have made to communities and provinces thus far, and working year-round towards creating a brighter future for the youth of our province and the world.”

In the same statement, Minister of Children and Family Services Searle Turton said “it is a privilege to be inspired every day by Alberta’s youth and the incredible differences they are making every day in our communities. I encourage every young person to keep using your voice and sharing your ideas.”

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