A positive sign for our future is seeing youth who are actively trying to make a difference in the community, by volunteering and being involved in organizations that help people out.
Weyburn and area has a number of examples of youth who are doing just that, and the community at large should take notice of their efforts and support them at any and every opportunity.
One example is the members of the youth council, which holds monthly meetings and advises city council on issues that matter to youth in the city.
This began a couple years ago, and at the city’s latest meeting, the newest members of the youth council were introduced.
These youth do not have a vote on council decisions, but they have a voice, and they will pass on the views of city youth on issues that might have an impact on them.
This provides an active way for youth to express their opinions directly to those who are making the decisions for the citizens of Weyburn.
Another example is the group, 100 Kids Who Care Weyburn, which encourages children to take an active interest in a charitable group and raise money for it.
100 Kids Who Care Weyburn is a giving circle with a vision to teach and inspire the next generation to give back to the community they live in.
According to group founders Kenda Kittelson and Natalie Gray, children will learn that happiness comes from making a difference in other people’s lives. They will feel empowered to make their own choices throughout the process and learn valuable speaking and leadership skills.
“We desire to teach kids that no matter your age or wealth, they can make a difference,” said Gray and Kittelson.
In an active example of showing how young children can care, they met this past week and decided to donate the money they raised to both the STARS Air Ambulance and the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.
In addition, they also packed some 50 shoebox gifts to be sent to Operation Christmas Child, which will provide children in a Third World country with a gift for Christmas, some receiving a present for the first time.
There are many other examples of youth who care, such as the Fifth Weyburn Scouts troop, youth groups at a number of city churches, and the Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) groups at local schools.
In all of these cases, the children are provided opportunities to look outside of themselves and show they care, and they can only do so with the support and love of their family, teachers and other significant adults in their lives.
