Arrows to Freedom
Youth Mentorship and Leadership Project

• In order to keep youth in school and build leadership Arrows to Freedom has launched a 3-pronged project that focuses on support and peer mentoring models.

• The project works to minimize barriers of attendance to the clubs by providing snack and bus tickets to the participants.

For more information on this project see the 2003/2004 project updates.

Kla-How-eya (Surrey Aboriginal Cultural Centre)
Aboriginal Youth Earn and Learn Project

• By combining part time work experience and building on the New School Literacy Program low literacy youth will be able to improve literacy skills, re-enter the school system, gain some work experience and ultimately transition to work or continuing education after completing this 2-year program.

For more information on this project see the 2003/2004 project updates.

Métis Provincial Council of B.C.
Urban Aboriginal Teen Parent Centre

The Urban Aboriginal Teen Parent Centre features a fun playroom complete with its own library and aquarium for the children, a resource Centre and kitchen and meeting rooms for the parents.

Programs for children and parents include:

• Mother Goose story telling
• literacy sessions for the children
• Infant First Aid Certification
• Child Nutrition workshops for the parents and caregivers.
• In order to remove barriers for attendance bus tickets and childcare will be provided when the parent workshops are taking place.

For more information on this project see the 2003/2004 project updates.

Red Road HIV/AIDS Network
Walking Together on the Red Road - HIV/AIDS Awareness Project

In order to increase awareness and education on HIV/AIDS in the greater Vancouver area this innovative project will utilize GIS technology to develop a better understanding of geographic areas at higher risk of new infections and to better understand gaps in care, treatment, and support for Aboriginal Person Living with HIV/AIDS and the BC Aboriginal population.

For more information on this project see the 2003/2004 project updates.

Indigenous Media Arts Group
Healing Hands, Stories of Resistance: A Media Arts Training Project for at-risk Aboriginal Youth

• This 12 weeks program is designed for 8 at-risk youth in the Healing Hands Media Arts Training Program.
• Classes include Media Literacy & Theory, Media Art History, Set Design and Direction, Aboriginal Practices and Research Methodologies.
• As their final assignment each student will tell a story of health and healing related to their life story. These media arts projects will be showcased at the annual IMAGENATION Aboriginal Film and Video Festival in April 2004.

For more information on this project see the 2003/2004 project updates.

Vancouver Native Housing
After School Special Bringing Kids, Youth and Elders Together

• In January 2004 the After School Centre of Vancouver Native Housing opened its doors. The funk space was renovated to include homework stations, computers and arts centers for the children and youth.
• In addition to the staff, a group of Elders will be volunteering during program hours to be with the children and youth.

For more information on this project see the 2003/2004 project updates.