Currently working on:
As of Summer 2005, CIWAY is busy working on a study of Canada's Aborigional population,
and whether or not proper saftey training has been givin to their youth work force.
Youth Project Follow-Up Meeting:
Toronto, Ontario - March 10 - 21, 2004. This is a brief report of the "Youth Project Follow
Up Meeting" that was held in Toronto, Ontario . We wanted to find out from the youth what worked and what
didn't work from the training they received for our Youth Project (which took place between 2000 and 2002)
in order to come up with solutions for improvements on their future presentations.
When the youth were consulted about their experiences with the Youth Project, we found there was an overwhelming concern for the apparent lack of funding and physical support that is imperative for the mobilization of the youth initiative.
The youth were asked to break up into groups and come back with a 45 minute presentation on how things worked and how things didn't work, and to also come back with some concrete solutions on how and what we need to do to improve the situation and presentations. They were also asked to present a 15 minute skit related to their concerns, regarding the importance of a safe and healthy workplace.
Throughout the day we assisted the groups with their presentations and ensured that they were hard at work. Not to our surprise, the youth worked very hard at getting their presentations and skits perfected for March 21st, the presentation date. Many of them worked right through into the evening to get it done. It was just amazing to see the vigour they put forth into their work. This was the same interest they had exhibited in the projects they had participated in before.
On the morning of the 21 st of March, everyone met and discussed how they were go ing to do the presentations. In addition, two of the youth spoke about different issues with regard to the importance of this project, which was absolutely wonderful.
The presentations began and it was overwhelmingly amazing to see the work and interest that these young people had taken in the cause. The most important issue that came out of these presentations was that they all recognized the importance of a safe and healthy workplace. Perhaps the most encouraging feedback was the inherent willingness and motivation the youth expressed about proactively doing something to ensure that all workers across Canada have fair access to a safe and healthy workplace.
Furthermore, to our pleasant surprise, the youth stated that they wanted to become part of CIWA, and that they wanted to create their own division within CIWA! They had decided to form their own organization called: "Canadian Injured Workers Alliance of Youth" (CIWAY).
When the youth were consulted about their experiences with the Youth Project, we found there was an overwhelming concern for the apparent lack of funding and physical support that is imperative for the mobilization of the youth initiative.
The youth were asked to break up into groups and come back with a 45 minute presentation on how things worked and how things didn't work, and to also come back with some concrete solutions on how and what we need to do to improve the situation and presentations. They were also asked to present a 15 minute skit related to their concerns, regarding the importance of a safe and healthy workplace.
Throughout the day we assisted the groups with their presentations and ensured that they were hard at work. Not to our surprise, the youth worked very hard at getting their presentations and skits perfected for March 21st, the presentation date. Many of them worked right through into the evening to get it done. It was just amazing to see the vigour they put forth into their work. This was the same interest they had exhibited in the projects they had participated in before.
On the morning of the 21 st of March, everyone met and discussed how they were go ing to do the presentations. In addition, two of the youth spoke about different issues with regard to the importance of this project, which was absolutely wonderful.
The presentations began and it was overwhelmingly amazing to see the work and interest that these young people had taken in the cause. The most important issue that came out of these presentations was that they all recognized the importance of a safe and healthy workplace. Perhaps the most encouraging feedback was the inherent willingness and motivation the youth expressed about proactively doing something to ensure that all workers across Canada have fair access to a safe and healthy workplace.
Furthermore, to our pleasant surprise, the youth stated that they wanted to become part of CIWA, and that they wanted to create their own division within CIWA! They had decided to form their own organization called: "Canadian Injured Workers Alliance of Youth" (CIWAY).
Ballot Counting
They held elections and formed their own Board of Directors, which includes a President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer and Board Members. They ensured that their Board of Directors was set up to represent
all provinces that were in attendance, and to work on having complete provincial representation in the near
future. Currently, CIWAY has representation in the Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, P.E.I.,
Labrador & Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. Their dedication was apparent when they worked at it until 10:00
P.M. that evening to make sure they had everything in place so they could commence their quest to start
working towards a safe and healthy workplace for all--especially youth.
This was a great achievement for these youth, as they see the need for such an organization to be in place for the youth all across Canada educating, sharing information and working with each other in regards to O.H.&S. They want to develop a newsletter geared towards youth, develop a special youth web site, and complete projects in the future to continue training youth about their rights and their responsibilities in the workplace.
They recognized that they would not have been able to accomplish what they did without the support of CIWA, HRDC, and, of course, the donations from labour. CIWA is also very proud to be able to report back to HRDC the excellent outcome of a well organized project that they had sponsored, and hope that they too would be very proud of the outcome.
This was a great achievement for these youth, as they see the need for such an organization to be in place for the youth all across Canada educating, sharing information and working with each other in regards to O.H.&S. They want to develop a newsletter geared towards youth, develop a special youth web site, and complete projects in the future to continue training youth about their rights and their responsibilities in the workplace.
They recognized that they would not have been able to accomplish what they did without the support of CIWA, HRDC, and, of course, the donations from labour. CIWA is also very proud to be able to report back to HRDC the excellent outcome of a well organized project that they had sponsored, and hope that they too would be very proud of the outcome.