Cape Dorset (Feb 20/06) - They may have their minds on the shopping, but the students from Cape Dorset who qualified for the Canadian leg of the Northern Youth Abroad program will be experiencing another part of Canada this summer.

Who cares if the shopping motivates the students to go?

Taukie Taukie and Lisa Jaw both admit they are looking forward to shopping this summer when they get to spend time in another Canadian community.

"I'm hoping to go to Edmonton, I hear they have a really big mall," said Jaw.

However, it isn't their only motivation.

Taukie is hoping for "British Columbia or Quebec, it seems very nice there."

Both have done some travelling already. Jaw has been to Manitoba and Ontario, Taukie has been to the Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Ontario.

They've been accepted to the program, but the work is just starting. There is plenty to do before getting a summer in the south.

"We have to fundraise and interview some of the elders in the community," said Jaw.

"There is a presentation about the problems where you are from. It's a whole bundle of assignments we have to finish," said Taukie.

Taukie and Jaw will be joined by two of their classmates. Makittu Takpaungai was also chosen to travel and Samajualie Joanasie has been named as an alternate. In this program, alternates usually get to make the trip.

This program is related to the Nunavut Youth Abroad Program, where students travel to Africa to do public service work. To go on Nunavut Youth Abroad, you must take part in this program first.