Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
Going back to a new year can be scary regardless what grade, and it’s important that us kids stick together and pass on knowledge than only experience (and a little luck) can give. Now heading into Grade 12 with a younger sister going into Grade 10, I can sympathize with her worries and concerns about facing a new peer group and environment as I did a couple years ago. So I have complied the Top 10 things I wish I had known walking into class September 3, 2013.
1. Look for the deals on school supplies
[Image Source]I had a Staples obsession for the past two years where I was convinced that only Staples had the kind of school supplies I needed (someone congratulate their marketing team). Every year (twice because of two semesters in high school) I would spend a literal fortune on high quality paper and binders and pick up pencils from Staples easily handing out around $80 a trip. Begrudgingly, I gave in this year to my dad’s pestering to just “visit Walmart and Superstore first.” I don’t like big stores; I get overwhelmed by the craziness, digging through giant boxes, and being unable to find prices. Sounds spend-thrifty, but saving up to $50 is well worth the 40 minutes of craziness. Don’t get trapped by the immediate sales bin chaos; go to the back of the store where you can find the same items in an organized fashion.
2. Join a club (or two or three or four)
Model UN Conference 2015 at U of C.
Clubs are a great way to get involved and aren’t super time consuming, contrary to popular belief. There are so many ways you can get involved whether through Model UN, Youth in Action, Speech/Debate or Anime club. Sport teams are also a great way to get involved with like-minded people. Also, if there’s a club you want to start, that is always an option too. If you have an idea, there’s at least one other person in your school that would want that too.
3. Ask questions
[Image Source]Limit your pride and arrogance because that’s the only thing that holds you back in the long run. Learn people’s names (something I struggle with) and make sure to speak to the teachers. It’s tough for a teacher to hate a student that greets them, and I know that’s a big fear for many. Your teacher is not out to get you, and as awkward as it might seem to ask a question in front of your whole class, chances are in a class of 25+ there’s at least one other person in that class with the exact same question. Trust me on this one.
4. Say hi and introduce yourself
(We’re all in the same boat) [Image Source]Sometimes that’s all you need to make a connection with someone. I remember my first day of school, I sat next to this girl and we both kept sending each other side glances (#superawks) until she finally introduced herself. Instantly, all the tension was gone and we chatted (like normal people!). A conversation doesn’t mean you have to be besties for life but just know that you are all in the same boat trying to figure things out together.
5. Take things as they come
[Image source]Don’t stress about the big picture too much. Just keep your head up. You will face challenges (both academic and social) so know that and be empowered that you are in control (as much as is might not feel like that). If you feel stressed just take a breath. In for four, hold for five, and out for seven. Drink some water, take a 20 minute nap, and you can go right back at the task or situation. You can do it. You may not hear it often but you truly can. One step at a time.
6. Be patient with yourself and others
You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to know everything. If you did, you would never have to go to school ever again, congrats. Challenge yourself but be forgiving and understanding that you are in a growth/transitional stage. You are growing and maturing to become the person you can be. Other people will let you down, that’s life. It might be a stranger who means nothing but it might also be someone who matters. Be patient with them and acknowledge that other people are dealing with stress to. You aren’t yourself when you’re hungry (or stressed).
7. Allow others to influence you within your moral boundaries
Now this one sounds sketchy and I thought about the wording twice before realizing it was exactly what I was trying to say. High school is a very fun and exciting part of your life where you get to leave your junior high of a couple of hundred kids to a larger, bigger and more vibrant group. It’s a good time to let your peers teach you a thing or two that you might not have known before. Let them introduce you to debate or chess or music in a way you have never seen before. Learning from your peers can be extremely rewarding, but don’t let them push your moral boundaries but rather affirm them.
8. Plan
Write stuff out, use sticky notes, giant calendars, the agenda they give public school kids…whatever you need to keep yourself in check. Have a schedule and/or a plan but don’t be married to it. Take some time each week to reanalyze what is working and what isn’t.
9. Don’t be scared to make a mistake
[Image Source]Now is the time when you have the energy and ability to fix mistakes made. One test score isn’t the death of you and neither is one friendship ending. Be in the moment and understand that you are exactly where you are supposed to be in this very moment. Things will work out but stressing it doesn’t help time go any faster, in fact the opposite is true. Plan the big things and take the smaller as they come. The rest will figure itself out. 🙂
10. Leave your mark
I know for me going into one of the largest high schools in Alberta it was scary to think that I’d have any impact at all. It was equally scary to have an impact as to not have an impact. I ran twice for Student Union, thinking that that would be the way I could contribute to my school. I never ended up making it but I made connections through elections and campaigns, forming bonds that I would not have otherwise. My school played announcements with a song every morning and one day I had a crazy idea to just ask if they would consider playing the Christmas song I had been a part of making. I had every expectation of hearing a no but I was told yes. Leave your mark in little ways, it’s not about the people that shout your name but those that will whisper it.
Be a part of whatever you do and give it your 100%, unless of course you’re donating blood. 🙂
Oh and don’t throw out your old notes. You never know when you might need them in the future.
Have an awesome year!
[Featured image is the main doors of Western Canada High School. Click here for image source]
GENRE: Action Film, Science fiction film, Adventure Film, Fantasy
RATING: PG-13
If you don’t already know who Smosh is, they are a comedy duo on YouTube; Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla. They have over 21 million subscribers on YouTube and they are known for doing hilarious videos. They produce at least one video per day, on one of their many different channels. Personally, Smosh is one of my favourite YouTubers, I have been watching them since 2012 and think that they definitely deserve their fame. This year Smosh decided to make a movie. The movie is sold at Wal-Mart and can additionally be purchased on YouTube for $5.
I decided that I wanted to watch this movie myself to see if it deserves all the hype. The movie is 1 hour and 40 minutes long and was created by Awesomeness TV Movie Productions. The plot is about Anthony and Ian wanting to delete an embarrassing video on YouTube before Anthony’s high school crush will see it, whom he will be seeing at their five-year high school reunion. They go through a portal of all the YouTube videos and they must find their video in order to destroy it.
This movie was fairly enjoyable and the editing was at a professional level. There were many parts of this movie that was very funny however; some of the acting was questionable. Ian and Anthony had respectable acting however there were some parts that seemed forced or unnatural. In the perspective of a Smosh fan this movie was funny and enjoyable. However, I would not recommend this film to anybody who is not already a fan. There are some parts of the movie that are only funny if you already know the actors. The actors were extraordinary YouTubers but exceptional movie actors.
School is right around the corner. It’s about time to hop onto the bus and be on your way to school. Are you ready? Do you feel prepared? If not, I have created a list of ways to become prepared for the new school year.
1. Have all your supplies ready
Let us start with the most obvious one: finish all shopping needed. Now is a great time to ‘shop till you drop’ for school supplies because amazing deals are going on in stores. Gather up loads of pencils, paper and erasers.
Try not to stay up so late anymore and wake up at a reasonable time to train your brain. Going to sleep at midnight and waking up at noon is wrong timing. So, start creating a habit of sleeping and waking up at a reasonable time so that you won’t have to worry about being late for school. Also make sure that you have enough sleep so that you can stay focus for the entire day. No one wants to fall asleep during class. Let’s just say that it’d be pretty embarrassing.
What do you want to succeed in? Creating goals will help motivate you to do well in school. It also makes you want to go to school so that you can pursue and achieve those goals. Write down that certain grade you want in that certain class. Maybe you want to hand in your homework on time or maybe you want to meet new friends. Have many goals. It feels great when dreams are achieved. You can do it!
Know yourself. Who is it that you want to be? Last year, you may have been someone you didn’t want to be. You can change that. This year, create the ‘you’ that you have been wanting to be. If you want to stop being a copy and start being an original, do it! Who do you want to be? Learn that! What impression do you want to create? Be that!
This Wednesday, the popular CBC radio “WireTap” declared the end of its 11-year run. They revealed that they ended their show because it was longer they ever anticipated for Wiretap to ever run.
They decided to wrap up their amazing years with this farewell video. This video presents people of different ages giving life advice to people of younger ages. This video is well worth of your four minutes and forty seconds. Enjoy!
Being embarrassed is not fun. It’s a nightmare! It is not the present moment of being embarrassed that haunts us, but rather the incident. How often do we lie in bed visualizing that horrific and embarrassing event occurring again? Oh, how will people view us now?
Actually, by viewing embarrassment as a monster, we are doing more harm to ourselves. Let’s turn the other direction. I want to tell you how embarrassment is your greatest mentor. Only when you see embarrassment as a mentor will you become smarter in life.
A few days ago, I was at the gym running on the treadmill. There were many gorgeous females that day. I plugged my headset into my iPhone. There I was, running on the treadmill, showing off how fast I could run. Next second, my iPhone flew out of my pocket. I twisted my head around to see it lying near the end of the machine. Next thing I knew, I fell down while the treadmill was still running. Everyone in the gym turned their head to look at me. I forced a meek smile and picked up my iPhone. Everyone must have thought I was an idiot. Who would fall while running on treadmill? My faced turned cherry pink from embarrassment.
As I was running again, I couldn’t help but concentrate on that fall. Everyone was smiling and giggling. They occasionally turned their heads my way. If only I wasn’t running so fast.
Hey, that’s it!
Yes, people laughed at me. Yes, I hurt myself. But, I giggled to myself after visualizing the situation again. By being embarrassment, it helped kill all that arrogance and pride in me. I should never be showing off at the gym, or anywhere else. I must be myself.
If you should ever feel embarrassed, then please keep feeling embarrassed. When you think about that embarrassing moment, you start to see the situation in a new way. This way often makes you think and learn something about yourself. I fell down at the gym in front of many gorgeous females, and I’m still giggling to myself.
Let us hear from you. What have you learned from your embarrassing experiences?
Sadly, the summer’s coming to an end. It may seem like everything is dying down but that’s definitely not the case. Are you scrambling to find something to do? Are you looking to have some last memorable fun to end your summer? Take a look at what’s going on in Calgary this weekend.
What: The Spanish Legacy Gala is a cultural gala that depicts the diverse hispanic cultural influence over the last millennium, through music, song and dance, in the Americas continent. The finest artists in Canada such as Oscar Lopez, Tango de Oro, Asi es Colombia, Salsa Rica, Estampeda Gaitera, and Fiona Malena Flamenco will be performing at the gala.
What: A weekend based theme on Canada’s rural history. You will be viewing a variety of exhibitions (historic farm machinery, handicrafts by the Chinook Guild of Fibre Arts), getting involved in activities such as barn dances, rope making, barn board branding. Have your fill of farm dairy delights in the midst of live entertainment.
Where: Heritage Park Village
When: Saturday August 22nd – Sunday August 23rd at 9:30am – 5:00pm
What: Annual Caribbean festival with a main stage for artist performances. Displays Caribbean culture through the food available, arts and crafts and youth activities.
Where: Olympic Plaza to Shaw Millenium Park along Stephen/8th Avenue
What: Rise for a cause is a fundraiser that enables yoga enthusiasts to stretch out in sun salutation to spread peace through yoga in support for the ‘Care for Children’ project.
The Whisper Challenge, the Bean Boozled Challenge, the Cottonball Challenge, the Blindfolded Drawing Challenge, and pretty much every other challenge you can think of, YAA bloggers seem to have done them all. Well with that lengthy list, you probably thought that we covered all those popular YouTube challenges. But while Rebecca and Ailin hilariously completed many, our bloggers managed to find one more that had not yet been done…The Blindfolded Makeup Challenge!
Kandace, Richard, and myself were searching for a creative way to introduce ourselves a bit more, and what came to mind was to complete a YouTube challenge. After asking our fellow bloggers what they thought would be the best (and safest) option, out of popular demand we decided to do the Blindfolded Makeup Challenge. And although we had some very.. interesting.. moments (watch the video and you’ll see) I don’t think any of us regret it. Not even Richard, and you can imagine he had the most ‘fun’ out of us 3.
After destroying a decent amount of makeup, giving each other fabulous makeovers, hours of editing, and laughing until our cheeks hurt, here it is! The first of many videos to come featuring we three goofballs.
Comment below for video suggestions, and tune in soon to see more.
Don’t you hate dilemmas and making tough decisions?
The other day, I went to my favourite clothing store. My wardrobe was already full, but I don’t care. I saw a superhero shirt. Great news! It has been marked down from $19.99 to $13.99. Then I see another shirt. The fabric is smoother and feels more durable. Definitely higher quality and more stylish than the superhero shirt. It has been marked down from $40.99 to $25.99. But then I see a third shirt. Doesn’t look as good as the first two, and the fabric feels rough, but it comes with a coupon worth $5 on my next purchase. Which one do I get?
I want to show you a spectacular technique that allows you to both make tough decisions and maximize your savings. Would you like to know how?
It’s deathly simple. All you need is basic math and logic.
If we buy the superhero shirt, how much would we save? $6, right? And how is the quality of the shirt? Pretty good. Durable and comfy.
How about the second shirt? We save $15. And the quality? Better than the first one. And we look better in it than the first.
Buying the third shirt only saves us $5, because of the coupon. Plus the fabric kind of sucks.
Would you not agree we should purchase the second shirt? It’s better quality, makes you look and feel better, and saves you more money.
It’s just that deathly simple, except…
One thing still bothers me. If I buy the second shirt, I save $15. But if I don’t buy the shirt, I save $25.99. So, should I buy it?
Over the summer, I made a goal to hit as many festivals and events downtown as possible. Some, I was able to volunteer at (Reggaefest, Fiestaval, or Opera in the Village, anyone?) and others, such as Canada Day and the Lilac Fest, I spent the day as a patron instead. One that really stood out to me as not getting nearly the amount of attention it deserves is Taste of Calgary– so while I was there last Friday with Arts & Culture Editor Hui Wen and a few other friends, I brought my camera along. Here were some of the day’s highlights!
Located at the colourful Eau Claire Festival Plaza, this event has a vibrant riverside backdrop that is a perfect location for soaking up the summer sun. We arrived right when it started at 11am, but by noon the crowds began to file in. Friday afternoon seemed to be the ideal time for people to stop by and kick off their weekend after a short day of work. I recommend arriving as early as possible to avoid ridiculous waits in lines.
Admission to this event is free, but food-redeemable tickets are sold at the entrance for a dollar each. Unlike the devious consumerist nature of some other events (cough cough Stampede), there wasn’t a single food item that cost more than 4 or 5 tickets, so you can try a wide variety of foods without breaking the bank. The chow mein pictured above was only 2 tickets!
I’m going to be honest here: if you’re looking for the finest selection of authentic ethnic foods that Calgary has to offer, maybe Taste of Calgary isn’t the place for you. Fried foods, for example, are in abundance; pictured above is Quebec-style poutine, deep-fried avocado with chipotle sauce, and butter chicken poutine. Instead of sticking to strictly traditional tastes, Taste of Calgary embraces its festival role. Worldly flavours are combined with street food classics in creative and crowd-pleasing ways, and if you’re looking for an unconventional meal when the festival rolls around again next year, I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
It’s that time of the year again. No, it’s not quite Christmas yet.. It’s back to school time! By now your mom might be nagging you to adjust your sleep schedule, or you might even be in school already. The nerves you might be feeling may be eating you up and the very thought of going back to school can give you flashbacks to some stressful times (shudder), but there comes a day where the seemingly endless days of summer must come to an end.. Sadly.
School can be a very tiring, stressful and boring environment. I’m not about to go on an education powertrip and force you to eat, sleep and breathe school (even though school is pretty nifty) but instead, I’m here to brighten up those long days spent on the bus, at the desk and working tirelessly at that algebra homework (you’ve got this!). To help you get through the next 10 months, I’ve put together a playlist. Fear not, for we’re all in this together.
1. We’re Going To Be Friends – The White Stripes
2. Time to Pretend – MGMT
3. Schoolboy – Grouplove
4. Handsome – The Vaccines
5. Campus – Vampire Weekend
6. Trying to be Cool – Phoenix
7. Wander – The Aquadolls
8. Fallout – Catfish & the Bottlemen
9. History Books – Absofacto
Listen to the whole playlist here. Have a great year!
There has always been a controversy surrounding movements like feminism, body image, racism and now cultural appropriation. The reason for this is because of the crude attitude presented and offensive comments made in relation to topics like these. That is what jumpstarts the want and need for a change. Maybe people don’t realize what they are saying or doing can come off as offensive because even I catch myself saying some mean or stupid things every now and then. These are all examples of things I have witnessed or been told about that I think can be considered offensive and inconsiderate. You might just not put the thought into thinking how someone might react to something you say and that’s normal. But pay attention to what other people tell you.
Sorry, what? You’re white. I think this is just an all around weird thing to say, this person wasn’t downright talking smack about a race but it just makes me uncomfortable. I mean P.O.C. are rad but why are you stating that you wish you were part of that race? White people are rad, everyone is rad. This comment was made after watching a bunch of videos of the nae nae. So are you trying to associate P.O.C. to the nae nae? This, while not being downright and completely racist, someone could take it to that level and could be offended by a comment like this. Putting it in my perspective if someone said “I wish I was latina” I would think, why? You’re taking certain characteristics and abilities and attributing them to a specific race. While not being completely offended I’m uncomfortable and don’t want to talk to you anymore.
Don’t tell me I can’t wear something and then imply that I’m not the ideal body type. There are different body types so tell me “I think something like this would fit you better” or “That dress style doesn’t suit you” The dress doesn’t suit me. It’s not me that needs to change. Don’t tell people they need to be something else because they are great just as they are.
Because I know I look good. I’m wearing the makeup I always wear because I’m super hot not because I’m insecure and I want you to tell me I’m beautiful without makeup. I know I look great without makeup too. There is a trend that boys think they need to constantly tell girls they are pretty or beautiful because girls are insecure. Newsflash, we aren’t. So stop trying to make us like you by telling us all this stuff we already know and assuming we don’t love ourselves, I love myself so much.
Literally stop. What? Do you even know what that represents? Because I didn’t until I googled it after you said this. Another question of cultural appropriation defined as; the use of an element from one culture by someone who is not a member of it. You’re white and as I learned, a bindi is a spiritual symbol that represents the symbolic significance that is integrated into Indian mythology. (I am not part of this culture; this is what my research told me) The point is, there is a fine line with cultural appropriation. Yes everyone is allowed to like things and I try to be chill about this stuff but I think that when it crosses into anything religious or that has a deeper meaning then you should really know what it is all about. I’m not about to start wearing a Hijab because I think it’s trendy, no. That’s offensive. I am not part of that culture and I’m not aware of all its traditions whether they are religious or not. Henna is becoming very popular which is also a part of this culture; I’m still not sure if this is okay. That’s just me, henna though has apparently been used always for aesthetic purposes or sometimes medicine so because there aren’t any religious implications does that mean it’s okay? I don’t know. Yes, you are allowed to like things everyone is and I don’t care what you do just as long as you know what you’re doing and why. Don’t offend anyone.
I’m sure everyone gets this question when their relatives visit and you all think it is super annoying. So I’m single, so what? Is it because I’m confident in who I am and like to be independent until I find someone who I genuinely like and want to be with or are you implying that there is something wrong with me? There isn’t anything wrong with me but thanks for making me think no one wants to date me. Being single is great because it’s a great time that you spend getting to know yourself and what you want, don’t feel pressured to get into a relationship.
“It’s not rape it’s surprise sex”
I’m going to vomit. I saw this as a facebook status a couple of years ago and people laughed they thought it was funny. It is not funny. 1 out of 6 women has been a victim of an attempted or completed rape. Think about it, you know more than 6 women. That means whoever you say this to or any rape joke to could have been raped or known someone who has been raped and you just made them have to think about that horrifying event. That the effect of being raped makes them 4 times more likely to commit suicide or 26 times more likely to abuse drugs and you just recalled that memory for them. Do not make jokes like this because it is disgusting and offensive.
What’s so gay? I don’t get it what makes this homosexual? Does that mean this sheet of paper is heterosexual? You’re talking about some stupid event that just happened that isn’t at all associated with sexual orientation. I don’t take this personally but I just don’t get it and I think there are some people out there that could be offended by this. Find another word to describe what just happened because gay is not an adjective unless you’re talking about that adorable couple holding hands over there.
“That’s so retarded”
Same concept as the last one, what makes this mentally disabled? Nothing. Stop; you using that word makes me uncomfortable. This is an offensive word already because it is slang that is used as an insult. Just don’t use this word for anything find a word that’s actually an adjective that fits the situation, expand your vocabulary.
My perspective on this social issue continues to change and broaden as time goes on. I feel like for a long time, I’ve been close-minded about it and to some extent, this still holds true today. That’s why I’m writing this post, to better educate myself and to inform readers about the complexities that surround this topic. The hope is that the more we know, the more understanding and empathetic we can be. Individuals who face homelessness are already experiencing tough times. So it makes no sense for us to marginalize them even more through assumptions and stereotypes about how they are.
What inspired me to write this article? About a week ago, I got a chance to volunteer at the Drop-In Center (DI), which is a homeless shelter located in downtown Calgary. While I have volunteered there a few times before, this was the first time I got a tour of the whole building. It really shed light on the vital services that they provide for people in-need, but also the ups and downs that homeless people face on a daily basis. Even though the homeless situation in this city seems bleak, I left with a sense of hope that a lot was already being done. At the same time, this hope was tempered with the feeling of that a lot still needed to be done. So this is my contribution to tackling this important issue.
Tour of the Drop-In Center
(Disclaimer: I take full responsibility for any inaccuracies with the information presented. Any information that couldn’t be fact-checked by research, I just had to go off by memory. However, steps have been taken to keep these inaccuracies to a minimum.)
We had a lovely staff member escort us to the 6th floor of the building and slowly work our way down, explaining what the purpose of each floor was. The 6th floor included a number of offices and notably, an Employment Services Training (EST) Center. There, low-income and homeless Calgarians are able to enroll in a free 3-week program where they’re equipped with theskills and certifications to find employment in today’s workforce.
One of the sobering facts that our tour guide told us was that one of their previous graduates from the program only had Grade 7 education. Possibly due to an abusive home environment and a ton of other problems stacked on top of them, that student had to stop going to school and eventually wound up at the DI years later. He reminded us of the importance of getting a good education, because those who don’t finish high school have a significantly harder time in the rest of their lives.
Another interesting part of this floor was the boardroom. It was furnished with a luxurious table that stretched across the room as well as an assortment of finely crafted wooden cabinetry and smooth marble countertops lining the wall. The reason I’m describing the furniture with so much detail is because residents at the DI built all of them.
Through their WoodWorksprogram, at-risk youth are provided with the opportunity to 12 weeks of hands-on experience in the woodworking trade. Our tour guide gestured to the cabinets and explained that it was made by exotic wood that was donated from a sponsor. That meant if they messed up during the construction, they couldn’t get more wood. However, they trusted them to make it, and here was beautiful proof of what placing their trust in someone could do.
Long and Short Term Shelter
The 4th and 5th floors provided long and short term assisted living. The floor layout was as follows: a number of rooms with bunkbeds topped with comfy pillows and blankets, a spacious common area with a kitchen and cabinetry (also furnished by the WoodWorks program), a widescreen TV, bookshelves, art hung on the walls, couches, and last but not least, a gorgeous view of the city. Residents are allowed to stay as long as they need. Sounds like a nice place to stay, doesn’t it? However, there are some rules that residents have to follow in exchange for being able to live there.
I just had to snap a photo of the view
There was not a single resident to be found while we were on those floors, which is one of the conditions they have to follow. Wake-up call is at 5:30 a.m. (yes, let me just emphasize again, 5:30 a.m.) which is signaled with a turning on of all the lights. All residents are expected to vacate the floor by 7 a.m., which means that by the time we were there, they were already out and about. The purpose of this is so that the residents can be productive with their day.
Some of the other conditions included no violenceon the property. There are cameras all around the floors to monitor the residents and if someone gets into a conflict, they can be removed from the assisted living program. They also have to be completely sober, meaning that the residents can’t have or bring any alcohol and drugs to the premises. This is because that are some recovering addicts living there and they want to create a safe space where they can be rehabilitated. Lastly, they must volunteer a minimum of 5 hours a week, which can be in the DI or out in the community.
This last rule in particular resonated with me. It was the cycle of volunteering. Countless staff, volunteers and sponsors help homeless people at the DI, and in turn, they can help themselves and help others. An example of this was their Community Garden Project. Clients from the DI teamed up with children from local daycares to build a community garden on 3rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenue S.W. downtown.
You may be asking yourself, isn’t it dangerous for a homeless person to be around children? No. I feel like we have the tendency to think of homeless people as less than human, as if they’re some kind of dangerous monster. They’re not. They’re not cold-hearted people who blindly lash out at others. Here, they’re being given the opportunity to give back to the community and make a difference. It’s affecting their lives for the better and dispelling myths about the homeless population.
“Jorge Canpusano, internal volunteer co-ordinator at the DI, says gardening is an opportunity for clients to find meaning and fulfilment by giving back to their community. “They’re responsible for something, they’re taking initiative in other areas of their lives. You can see the impact,” says Canpusano.”
Our tour guide explained to us that by not having to worry about finding a place to sleep and finding food to eat, homeless people can focus on more positive aspects of their life. This is just one of the many examples that embodies that philosophy.
Emergency Shelter
As we headed down to the 3rd floor, the layout changed drastically. This floor was filled with rows and rows of bunkbeds all crammed into one large room. On first glance, we could tell that it was distinctly less comfortable than the floors above. Only a single mat was laid over the bunkbeds and there was no common area. This floor was for emergency shelter. They are accessed on a first-come, first-serve basis starting at 5:00 p.m. each night.
Also different than the upper floors is that residents are allowed to have a few sips of alcohol on this floor, as the DI believes they are adults and they have the right to legally drink. The only condition is that they can’t be full-out drunk, otherwise, they have to move down to the lower floors. The 1st and 2nd floors also provide emergency shelter, but for those who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
The DI would much rather allow a place indoors for homeless people to stay rather than passed out in some alley or sidewalk. That’s what our tour guide explained to us as we headed down to the 2nd floor. He lead us into a room filled with homeless people laying on the bare floor, some with blankets and pillows, some not. All of them were drunk or high. Although the DI does have mats, they can’t lay them out during the day because they would have to clean them again. They have to ensure all the mats from the night before are properly cleaned because of sanitary reasons and that’s already a monumental task. Therefore, residents on those floors have to bring whatever they can on their own.
Still, this was safer than allowing them to tough it out on the streets, especially if they’re under the influence. The DI tries to make the most of their space. They have a nightly housing capacity of 1100, which can be accessed 365 days a year. Despite this, it’s an unfortunate fact that there are still people that they have to turn away since it’s a first-come, first-serve basis. However, there are a number of services that the DI provide beyond shelter.
Health Care, Counselling and Hygiene
Although we didn’t visit the rooms, we were informed that the DI also provides health care, counselling and hygiene services. Many homeless individuals face mental illness, addictions or physical problems, so it’s essential that they are able to access these services. They have a number of nurses and counselors on-site to address their needs and improving their well-being. As for hygiene, they have showers, a laundromat, and a barber. Residents are also able to obtain free clothing that has been generously donated. Just as some interesting stats: “In 2011, nearly 140,000 articles of clothing were given to over 25,000 individuals” (http://www.thedi.ca/live/clothing/)
Food is the fuel for life. Food is one of those things that we don’t know how valuable it is until we don’t have it. If you’re going about your day on an empty stomach, it can be hard to focus on other things. It can leave you lethargic and bitter. Perhaps one of the biggest jobs that the DI has to do is serve hundreds of guests each day. They serve three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between. For those who can’t be there during meal service, they can bring a brown-bagged lunch that comes with sandwiches and a granola bar. This is what we were preparing while we were volunteering here.
Have you ever heard of a professional whistler? Me neither, not until our tour guide told us about it. Every so often, they try to bring in entertainment. There was this one time they brought in a professional whistler, who is apparently ranked as 2nd best whistler in the nation. He held a 45-minute concert, which not everyone was a big fan of, but I still found it amusing. Another time, they had a band from Sled Island come in to put on a free concert. It’s small things like these that can make a large impact – it’s a chance for them to just sit back, forget about their problems, and just enjoy a show.
“We see the humanity behind homelessness.”
Whenever I pass by the DI, I always see these big bolded words on the banner posted outside. Although not in the same words, this is the philosophy that our tour guide kept emphasizing. Besides wanting us to know more about the facility, the main thing he wanted us to leave with a more open-mind. Look a little deeper, he said. There’s a human there, just like you and me. It doesn’t matter if they’re in tattered clothing, if their face is weather-worn, look past that. That’s the same philosophy that I want to impart on you too.
Homelessness is not just the state of not having a physical home, but also not having an emotional home. An emotional home in the sense of not having a place where they feel part of a community and unconditionally loved. If we ever needed help with our problems, we would go to our support network wouldn’t we? This would be our family, friends, adults, teachers and so on. Our tour guide chatted with some residents in the past and asked why they didn’t turn to their support network. Their response was that they didn’t have anyone to turn to. It’s tragic to hear. It’s no wonder that a lot of the residents there battle with loneliness and low self-esteem due to their circumstances.
That’s why the DI works so hard to create an environment where people can feel safe and loved – a physical and emotional home. Despite all the staff and volunteers that work tirelessly each day to provide these services, I believe it’s fair for me to say that more help is always appreciated. Among some of the ways you can get more involved is serving a meal, go with your school as a field trip, donating clothing and appliances, and of course, booking a tour of the building. It’s a step in the right direction to read this post, but it’s a different experience to see it first-hand.
I also want to take the time to say that this article was not sponsored and that it was my personal choice to write about the DI because of my volunteer experience there. Hopefully you’re leaving with a better understand of the important work that the DI is doing and what you can do to help. This is only Part 1 of me examining the issue of homelessness. There are still other organizations out there I want to highlight and I want to delve deeper into my personal experience with homelessness.
Soweto, the name of the South West Township that borders Johannesburg, the city where I was born. Merely thirty kilometers from where I was born, a drastically different country seemingly resides. It’s paradoxical the drastic wealth disparity between the luxurious golf and country estates to the township that many call home.
A tour took us past a statue of Nelson Mandela, proudly surveying a beautiful square that stood for the end of the apartheid regime. Apartheid in South Africa ended in 1994 when Nelson Mandela (South Africa’s first black president) was released from Robben Island. Robben Island was a working prison camp that held many political activists and those that spoke out against their party. The African National Congress (ANC) was a rival party that was not recognized by the current regime as legitimate until the release of its leader, Nelson Mandela.
The tour continued across a set of train tracks, the only divider between the four star hotel and some of the poorest areas of Soweto. The people that lived here were on the waiting list for government housing and some of them had been for over 10 years, since the ANC had been elected into office. Houses were supplied with power by frayed copper wires, a large percentage of which had been stolen from pre-existing lines at the risk of electrocution. The result of the electricity being spread so thinly for so many people is ‘load-shedding’.
I was in South Africa last year and even then load-shedding was a very foreign concept. Load-shedding essentially is a rotation of electrical power between areas. Certain times of the day are blacked out for periods of up to four and a half hours to provide power for everyone plugged into the electrical grid. Imagine not having power (any electricity) for a period of four hours. That means you can’t cook, no air conditioning (it’s a warm country) and for some no running water (much of the water is supplied by pumps). Also, if you’re lucky enough to experience load shedding in the evening that also means no lights in the evenings for home work and other tasks.
We walked into the downtown core of the city. Side stepping garbage and stagnant water, walking between houses fenced by barbed wire and old mattress springs. Homes in South Africa never used to be so fenced. When apartheid ended in 1994, people grew afraid of what might change and built high walls to protect their wealth and current lifestyle. Gated estates became normal and those patrolled by 24 hour guard not so uncommon. Poorer people also began to build fences and walls as a symbol of status out of whatever they could find, typically brick or scrap metal.
Soweto houses about 4.8 million people and still many more refugees from bordering countries come to Johannesburg looking for opportunity. Johannesburg was founded during the gold rush where many outsiders came and amassed great wealth. The gold mines still exist and still hold gold but at a depth that is currently not economically viable to reach it at. The people who made lots of money returned to their homes with gold and the stories of the riches of South Africa. And so, more people come, hoping for something more than they are able to get in their country, looking for other opportunities but they are disappointed with cramped housing (if any) controlled by mafia leaders.
Everywhere we walked, we were flanked by several children, smiling and waiving at us and asking us to “shoot them” , ensuring that the pictures were perfect. It was quite an eye-opener for me to know that if I had been born just thirty kilometers from where I was, the two children pictured above (roughly aging 5 and 3) would have been one of the five children I might’ve had by the age of 17. The difference that birth can make but also the ability and unique position we are in to be able to change that.
Did you know? Nelson Mandela’s name was not originally Nelson but Rolihlahla. A teacher struggled with the pronunciation of his name and dubbed him ‘Nelson’.
The Teen Choice Awards was a night of celebration for many and a party for all the teens who attend! It is a night full of stars, a room full of talented geniuses, and an evening of recognition for those dedicated artists who work hard on perfecting their crafts. But in a few words, it’s a crazy party full of love, laughter, and music. However unfortunately for me, I was watching the awards on TV, with a bowl of popcorn on my lap, in my pjs… so it wasn’t much of a “party” for me.
That being said, I did especially enjoy seeing all of the celebrities dressed up on the blue carpet and couldn’t help but admire some great taste in fashion. It was interesting to see how each celebrity’s style mirrored their work/personality and added to the entire “feel” of the awards show.
I had the great pleasure of critiquing each outfit and narrowed down my Top 5 looks of the men on the blue carpet at Teen Choice Awards 2015! I’ve got to say that the suits/blazers are always a classy + but there ain’t nothing wrong with a suave denim jacket or a snapback. Good work boys, I’m proud!
1) Recognized world wide as a true performer: Jason Derulo
2) The Californian Actor: Justin Baldoni3) He is #pitchperfect, Skylar Astin!4) The popular teen sensation: Austin Mahone5) My favourite youtuber: Tyler Oakley!
It is no secret that organization is a very important thing, especially in school. Personally, I am organized for the first couple weeks of school but then I get lazy and stop. I have tried many methods of organization and it never seemed to work. I began to prosper only when I began developing my own strategies. These 3 things are essential in effective organization and they help you stay up to date with your schoolwork for the WHOLE year.
Index Card Holders
Description: Index Card holders are very convient and useful. It makes it easy for you to take your index cards places and they will not get crushed in your bag.
Price: $4 at most stores
Where it can be found: Walmart, Superstore, Costco (in bulk)
My Methods: In my opinion, index cards are the key to success in studying. My method is that, three days before any quiz or test I begin making my cards. The act of writing all your information down helps with learning. I make about 1 pack of index cards per test. Then I put all my cards in my index card holder and I will take them EVERYWHERE. Whether it is on the bus, at home or in the super market I will be reviewing my flash cards. In addition, study groups are made easy with your cards. By testing your friends or being tested by your friends you will learn the material.
LOTS of Cheap Notebooks
Description: These notebooks can be found at Staples or Walmart. They are 100 pages each and come in festive colours!
Price: $1
Where it can be found: Walmart, Superstore and Staples
My Methods:In addition to having you main notebook for note taking in class, you should have several cheap notebooks at home. These notebooks definitely are very useful in my learning. My method is that the night before the test I will grab these notebooks and read the textbook. I write down the important points and draw the diagrams in the book. By writing all the information again I remember all the points that were covered in that unit. I will also make sure I rewrite the notes I took in class. For each unit on average I will write 15-30 pages of notes.
Tip:Make sure that you keep these notes and you can review them for finals.
White Board Calendar + Colourful Dry Erase Markers
Description: These schedule in addition to my daily school planner is the reason for my academic success. These stick on white board schedule easily peel off your wall and it can be placed above your desk.
Price: $11-15
Where it can be found:Winners, Superstore, Walmart, Staples
My Methods:I will write down EVERY test/quiz/assignment due date on my schedule. Before I used to forget about my assignment constantly and as a result I wouldn’t study. However my calendar clearly shows the work I have to do and it helps me stay on track.
.jpg)
