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Time in the big city Arctic Bay teenager visiting British Columbia this summer
Myles Dolphin
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 15, 2013
IKPIARJUK/ARCTIC BAY
When Napassi Joseph first arrived in Chilliwack, B.C., on July 2, she discovered something most Canadian teenagers have long taken for granted - shopping.
Emily Kalluk, left and Napassi Joseph, from Arctic Bay, are both taking part in the Northern Youth Abroad program this summer. - photo courtesy of Northern Youth Abroad |
The 19-year-old Arctic Bay resident, one of 44 youth from across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories taking part in the Northern Youth Abroad (NYA) program, said the activity is her favourite part of being in Chilliwack so far.
"We only have two stores in Arctic Bay," she said.
Joseph is living with a host family and volunteering at a work placement nearby, the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, where she supervises youth and helps them with crafts.
The NYA program, for people aged 15 to 20, is designed to provide youth with the experience of being independent but in a supportive manner, said program director Rebecca Bisson.
"For almost all the participants, this is the most independent travel they've ever done before," she said.
"The experiences they can have range but we try to align them with career interests."
In her application, Joseph wrote she enjoyed working with people and children, but she doesn't think it's something she wants to build a career around.
She was first encouraged to take part in the program by a friend in Arctic Bay who'd participated the year before.
On June 25, Joseph arrived in Ottawa and began a week-long orientation session with the other participants.
Bisson said the youth were prepared to deal with home sickness, culture shock, the bus system, opening a bank account, workplace safety and other aspects of life in the big city.
They also took part in team-bonding experiences and met Gov. Gen. David Johnston at Rideau Hall.
When Joseph first arrived in Chilliwack, she was nervous and anxious. With the help of her host family and new friends, though, she has adjusted nicely and enjoys her new, temporary life.
"They've been really good to me," she said.
"I speak with my host mother a lot and living with them is pretty good actually. We get along well."
"One of the many goals of the program is to help inspire youth to complete secondary and post-secondary education and to take on leadership roles in their home communities," said a Northern Youth Abroad news release on July 9.
Joseph returns to Ottawa on Aug. 7 for a four-day debriefing and participants will begin returning to their home communities on Aug. 12.
Three other Arctic Bay residents, Andrew Iyerak, Stacy Shappa and Emily Kalluk, are also taking part in the program.
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