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Taking the long view Darrell Greer Northern News Services Published Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Ungasiktumut Isumaksaqsiujuniq (Taking The Long View) Leadership and Resiliency Program (LRP) is a $2.1-million, five-year program funded by the National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC).
LRP co-ordinator Ross Paterson said those involved with the project are excited about its potential.
Paterson, who has been given office space at John Arnalukjuak High School, describes the project as a school-based community program.
"Our focus is to reach 100 high school and middle-aged students in the 14 to 19 years of age bracket," said Paterson.
"The resiliency groups will meet weekly to provide kids with the opportunity to voice their issues in an open, yet confidential, forum.
"There will also be a service-learning activity each month for group members to participate in a project that helps better the community in some way.
"The program will also feature high-adventure activities once a month."
A climbing wall is already in place at the high school with a challenge climb to the top of the gym, a flying squirrel and a Prusik climb.
Other high adventure activities could include land trips, afternoons of table tennis or ice fishing.
Paterson said part of the funding was used on the climbing wall and challenge-course technology in the gym.
He said while funding was received in May of 2011, preparations didn't start in earnest until teachers returned from summer holidays.
"I had commitments to my former job and didn't move to the school to take this position until Oct. 3.
"A lot of groundwork was done by full-time counsellor Judy Connor, including being the genesis for the project, writing the original proposal and placing the order for materials for this year.
"The model focuses on resiliency groups, service learning and high adventure, and those activities promote healthy relationships, goal setting and coping strategies.
"We hope to use those key components to empower our youth and give them the resiliency to face life's challenges, and to bounce back when adversity strikes."
The program's ultimate goal is to have Arviat youth believe in themselves as they plan their futures and become parents and citizens.
Paterson said because this is a NCPC project, it's also hoped the kids will become less drawn to criminal or risky behaviour, move away from substance abuse, and become better students as they attend school more to participate in the program.
"We're also hoping this will help contribute to a lower rate of suicide, teenage pregnancies, domestic violence and vandalism in town.
"This initiative can help kids gain the strength to say no to their peers when necessary."
Paterson said hamlet director of finance Michael Cohen has helped keep the program's numbers on track.
He said an advisory board has been put in place and teachers are taking the primary role as group facilitators.
"During the next six months, they'll be volunteering their own time for a lot of what we'll be doing.
"They're actually giving high school credit for participating in the NWT and we hope, as we move forward, that may happen here so teacher and scheduling times would be a lot easier to handle.
"But, for now, we're looking at getting our feet wet and making as few mistakes as possible as we move ahead."
Paterson said about 25 teachers and community members took LRP training.
He said 12 have also been trained on the climbing wall, apparatus and technology.
"Those people have made a verbal commitment to come in during the times we're going to use the climbing wall.
"The wall is important in that it's something different here, but it's actually going to be a smaller piece of the overall program.
"My hope is that we see the kids really take on the service aspect, with high adventure being like the icing on the cake."
Paterson said the program officially starts with the kids on Jan. 23.
He said there's still some groundwork to complete, such as having a solid risk-management plan in place before kids start climbing to the gym ceiling.
"We often see projects come along, build up steam and then, as people leave or staff changes, peter out.
"But this is a community project that just happens to be in the school and, so far, it has a real community feel to it.
"A lot of outside forces have helped keep it moving and, hopefully, that's a good sign of things to come during the next five years."
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