Creation of your Youth Committee

1-Who can set up a Youth Committee?

Any young person who wants to get involved and improve his/her well-being as well as that of his/her community and Nation.

2-What is a Youth Committee for?

The roles of a Youth Committee can be many. It can be a platform to the voice of the young people within the community and hence contribute to improve their situation. This committee can also help to set up fund-raising activities for the organization of Youth or community related activities (see activities possible section). What is more to it, you are the people to decide which direction your committee will take and where it will focus its energies.

3-Can we look for partners?

It is important to have partners when setting up a Youth Committee. These resources can help in several ways. For example, a partner can provide advice and assistance. You can also benefit from their experience and who knows, you may also obtain support in terms of funding or human resources.

The following are examples of potential partners: Band Council (different sectors), Elders’ Committee, Women’s Committee, Men’s Committee, schools, Youth centre, community radio, community organizations, organizations outside the community (e.g.: Youth Regional Forum).

4-What are the steps in setting up a Youth Committee?

(These steps are suggested and can be tailored to your convenience)

1. Organize a meeting (assembly) with young people from your neighbourhood/community (determine the target age group)
2. During this first assembly: discuss the type of committee that you wish to create (number of members, meeting frequency, committee composition)
3. Determine the first date of the Committee meeting
4. During the first Committee meeting, find a name for your committee
5. Create a logo for your committee
6. Fix the short, medium and long-term objectives of your Committee
7. Obtain a resolution or a motion from the Band Council as support and an official recognition
8. Obtain letters of support from community associations
9. Draft a letter of presentation to make the Committee known in the community
10. Open a bank account for the Committee
11. Find one or more meeting sites for your committee (free halls/rooms if possible)
12. Publicise the creation of your committee: community radio, community newspaper, poster and/or folders in mailboxes
13. Find funding (see section 6)
14. Organisze activities for young people and the community (see section 7)
15. The most important thing is to have fun while realizing the objectives

5 –Do we need specific documents to set up the Committee?

In order to structure and make your Youth Committee official, it is recommended to obtain a certain number of documents. These documents are not all indispensable, but if ,for example you want to obtain funds from a regional Youth forum via the Fonds régional d’investissement jeunesse (FRIJ), the following documents will be required:

• General rules
• Charter
• Terms of reference
• Written project
• Budget
• Action plan
• Work plan
• Registration number

Other documents (see below) might come in handy if you want to make your Committee known:

• Poster
• Folder
• Business cards

6– What are the potential sources of funding?

There are two potential sources of funding for your Committee. The first source consists in setting up a funding campaign and the other one is by obtaining funds an organization. You will find below a long list of ideas for activities to collect funds.

• Collect drink cans and bottles
• Bingo (money or gifts)
• Collect cents
• Sponsors (public and private) – Draft a letter of sponsorship request
• Collecting food items for resale
• Community dinners / Conference dinners / Fund-raising dinners / Shows (bear in mind that these require time and resources)
• Grocery packaging inside and outside the community
• Fund-raising auction sale / quiet auction
• Car wash
• Paying bridge tolls / Paying road tolls
• Radiothon / Bikeathon / Walk-o-thon, etc.
• Services to community members: (menial work – snow removal – grass clipping – gardening – etc.)
• Sale of promotional items / Sale of handicraft creations
• Ticket sales (half-half, drawing one or more objects)
• Garage sales / Flea market
• Door to door food sales (chocolate, coffee, bread, breakfast, lunch or dinner home delivery)

The second source of funding i.e. obtaining funds from an organization requires more steps as you will require official documents (see section 5). However, when your documents will be ready, you will have the opportunity of obtaining substantial funds conditional to your submission of an activity report and a verified budget.

Contact the Regional Youth Forum to obtain a presentation of the Fonds régional d’investissement jeunesse (FRIJ).

Regional Youth Forums of Quebec: http://www.forumsjeunesse.qc.ca/forums_f.htm

7– What type of activities can the Committee organize?

• Organize training sessions for young people
• Organize sports events (tournaments) and cultural events
• Participate in forums, colloquies and conferences
• Organize outings, trips and exchanges
• Purchase equipment for the youth centre or the community
• Create a cooperative (economic development)
• Promote healthy life habits
• Organize a solidarity walk (determiner the theme)
• Launch a petition on a cause which interests you
• Draft recommendations, resolutions, papers, articles in newspapers
• Meet and discuss with decision-takers
• Create a Youth Network (email) in your community
• Create et alimenter un babillard jeunesse dans les endroits fréquentés par les jeunes
• Put your Youth Website online and/or obtain a section on the Band council Website
• Organize meetings with the young people in your community to get their opinion on various issues
• Organize a Youth trade fair in your community with the help of organizations such as the regional commissions of the AFNQL (FNQLHSSC/FNEC/ FNQLEDC /IDDFNQL/ FNHRDCQ), Quebec Native Women (QNW), Wapikoni Mobile, National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), Secrétariat à la jeunesse (SAJ), Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ), Les Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec (LOJIQ), Katimavik, YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada, Québec sans frontières, Canada World Youth, Institut du Nouveau Monde, Regional Youth Forum, etc.

All in all a whole host of activities can be organized and customized as per your needs!

8– What could be the outcomes of your Youth Committee?

• Develop leadership in young people
• Empower young people on the community level
• Help young people to express themselves and participate locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
• Develop projects and useful tools for young people
• Raise the participation of young people in various activities and events
• Obtain a delegate counsellor in Youth affairs– Representative
• Obtain a nonvoting seat within the Band Council
• Create a youth fund within the community
• Obtain a resource to work full time for the Youth

For further information, feel free to contact Mr. Serge Rock
Phone : 418.842.5020
Fax : 418.842.2660
Email : jeunes.youth@apnql-afnql.com

Steps for the creation of a youth committee