02 Dec Youth Central’s Year In Review

This year was a fantastic year for Youth Central! Youth Central volunteers contributed over 40,000 hours to their community, helping 180 agencies. Youth Central programs continued to grow in size, as did our social media presence. There were also new and exciting projects. Here is a snapshot of 2013:
 

New Projects

• Youth Central brought community agencies and youth together at a new event called The Trade Off, where youth used their volunteer hours as currency to bid on prizes.
  

  The Trade Off

• Youth Central was an organizing sponsor of TEDxYouth@MemorialDrive, where six speakers shared their ideas on (re)branding community.
• Youth Central developed workshops for partner organizations on engaging youth through marketing and developing youth councils.
• In partnership with Kids Up Front, Youth Central developed the Pay It Forward project, where youth are recognized and rewarded for their “pay it forward” attitude.

Accolades

• Youth Central received recognition from Fort Calgary, the Calgary Food Bank and Salvation Army for our volunteer work.
• Youth Central was featured in both the Globe and Mail and the Calgary Herald in a supplement section about philanthropy.
• Three of Youth Central’s volunteers sit on the new YVC International Youth Advisory Board.

Awards

• The Youth Volunteer Corps received the Volunteer Calgary Leader in Volunteer Engagement Award.
  

  The Volunteer Calgary Awards

• Youth Central won third place in FFWD Calgary’s Best of Calgary Awards in the Best Kept Secret category.
• Youth Central received the “You Rock” award from the Calgary Youth Justice Society at their annual general meeting.
• 64 of Youth Central’s youth volunteers received awards from the Youth Volunteer Corps of America for contributing over 100 hours to the Calgary community in a year.
• Youth volunteer Cassidy Robertson received the Volunteer Calgary Leader of Tomorrow award, senior high.
• Youth volunteer Sarthak Sinha was part of Avenue Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40.
• Youth volunteer Sheliza Kassam received the Calgary Award, Stars of Alberta award, YMCA Peace Medal, and National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Youth Philanthropist.
• Youth volunteer Zeeyaan Somani was the first-ever recipient of the Don and Jean Sloan Scholarship.
• Board member Sairose Kassam received the Role Mothers Award.
• Youth alumni David Hall was selected as a Canadian Down Syndrome Hero by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society.
• Youth alumni Jasmine Kassam won the Free the Children Youth Award.