Youth Abroad program enters fourth year
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (May 16/01) - Participants in the 2001 Nunavut Youth Abroad program (NYAP) will soon be heading off to Eastern Canada and Swaziland, Africa.
Students learn valuable life and work skills in the program and must complete the Canadian phase to become eligible for its international component.
Four Kivalliq students will join 10 from the Kitikmeot and Baffin in the Canadian phase.
Kivalliq students taking part are Charlotte Kusugak and Sharon Owlijoot of Rankin Inlet, Bernice Niakrok of Arviat and Coral Harbour's Clayton Nakoolak.
Five of six students in the International phase are from the Kivalliq, with Jo Ellen Pameolik and Brian Suwaksiork of Arviat, Rachael and Johnathon Siusangnark and Andrew Beveridge of Repulse Bay making the trip.
Committee member Jim Kreuger of Baker Lake says there are positive changes slated for the NYAP's fourth year of operation.
The Canadian phase will focus on the Maritimes instead of various locales across Canada.
Canadian Crossroads International is responsible for placements and Kreuger says the change will make the NYAP more efficient.
"They have regional structures, so we can deal with the Maritime division this year and then go to another region and deal with the branch there," says Kreuger. "Keeping in contact with groups across Canada is a big job and this makes it easier."
Federal funding for the international component comes from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Students in this year's International phase may also spend a day with Canada's Arctic ambassador Mary Simon at the Canadian Embassy in Denmark.
"Plans are almost finalized for her to have lunch with the students and speak to them about what it means to be an ambassador.
"It will be especially meaningful to them coming from an Inuit ambassador."
The NYAP has partnered with the World University Services of Canada to bring Swaziland participants to the Malindza refuge camp, where they will do library, day care and gardening work among other duties.
"World University Services of Canada will handle the orientation segment in Ottawa and provide support in the case of an emergency.
"It's important for us to have support like that in place for our students."
