Programs & Services > Community and Neighbourhood Development > Building Bridges - youth program update
Building Bridges - youth program update
Video Learning Circles:
For the Horn of Africa communities' youth, Building Bridges organizes monthly viewings and discussions of documentaries that address issues such as racism, environment, youth culture and media.
The facilitators create a friendly atmosphere and encourage the youth to participate freely in the discussions that follow the movie. The goal is to get the youth engaged in discussions about issues that affect their lives, share their concerns, look for ways to make things better and have fun at the same time. Some examples:
Exploring guns and violence
The viewing sessions include Fahrenheit 9/11and Bowling for Columbine. The participants explore the bloodshed that has resulted from America's engagement with guns and violence. They also compare life in Canada with the U.S. one and discuss about this summer's shootings in Toronto, which mainly involved youth. This viewing creates a good environment for discussing what the youth believe to be the reasons behind these shootings.
The Cost of Cool:
This movie shows the teenagers grappling with what is takes to be 'cool' and the environmental price we pay to have the latest 'coolest' stuff.
Tough Guise:
This session looks at the media, violence and youth as well as the image of youth in popular culture in the U.S.
Manufacturing Consent:
This movie shows how the media makes news and how people are made to believe what the media is broadcasting.
The ultimate goal of the Learning Circles is to generate action and change. The Building Bridges program aims to support a group of youth who are willing to increase their competence and participation in community life, act as role models for their peers, and promote peace and harmony in their communities.
Summer Fun Program (August 2005)
In August, Building Bridges held two fun activities at Genoble Public School at the Felmingdon Park area: a friendly youth soccer tournament (August 10) and a cultural night (August 17). The youth tournament was followed by a discussion with the participating youth about the activities they are interested in and how they can become more engaged with the Building Bridges activities.
The cultural night benefited from the participation of Sahar Badawy the founder of Flemington Park Parent association and the winner of one of the seven Vital People Grants offered by the Toronto Community Foundation in 2004. Sahar talked about the importance of being involved in community activities and how this will reflect positively on immigrant women, children and youth. The women participants brought food for a cultural dinner while the kids enjoyed face painting and Henna designs done by young girls from their own communities.
