The youth are the future, and in the current times we live in it is more important than ever that they have a voice.
Cowichan Lake Community Services Society has created a new program and space for youth to be more seen and heard in the community through their new Youth Leadership Committee which kicks off this summer. The new program will be led by Youth and Child Family support workers Rachel Rogers, and Christy Konschuh who prefers to go by her nickname 'Conch'.
"I have been called Conch since high school which was a nickname for my dad as well so it sticks, and breaks the ice, I feel included when I hear Conch," she says.
Inclusion is key, and one that will unlock many opportunities for young people going forward.
The YLC will run every Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., from July 11 to Aug. 22 and has space for 14 participants aged 13-18. The new committee was inspired by The Rainbow Tea Club — a small but powerful group of Lake Cowichan Secondary students.
"I've always believed in supporting young people," said Conch. "We witnessed one young person act not only as the voice of their generation, but also their 2SLGTBQIA+ community, it was truly something to see them rooted in social justice at such a young age. I realized I wanted to support this person, and hold our young people up so that their voice can be heard, and that they have a seat at the table.
"We all went through this phase where we all knew everything we needed to know as a teenager and no one could tell us differently," Conch continued. "There is a really valuable perspective that I think is overlooked because we criticize the executive functioning of the brain, and its development, but there is this amazing opportunity for us to harness that raw experience of emerging from the nest, and seeing the world raw, and for what it is, and then taking that expression, and experience and making sure it is heard is not only cool, but also really valuable."
Rogers agreed.
"The youth in the community right now are screaming to have their voices heard and to be a part of the conversation, and be welcomed," Rogers said. "I think creating a community that can use the committee as a stepping stone to get more young people involved with what is going on if they choose would be extremely beneficial to them."
Rogers who has been working with children, youth and their families for four years, and recently graduated with a Bachelor's in psychology considers this her first official support worker role. She commutes to Lake Cowichan from Langford each day to make a difference.
Conch has been in her new role for just two months. She has a background in Early Childhood Education, which enabled her to serve neurodivergent families, and graduated with a Human Service Worker diploma from North Island College in 2010.
The YLC will be an opportunity for young people represent themselves, and have their voices heard. Sessions will include facilitation skills, an introduction to Robert’s Rule of Order, connecting with mentors, and publishing a content for the community.
Short term goals of the new program include youth having a greater visibility within the community, feeling supported and heard. They will have the chance to get to know local farm and business owners, as well as town council as the new committee navigates how to make council meetings more youth accessible, as well as any other opportunities where community members gather to make decisions that impact the young people of Lake Cowichan.
Most of all Rogers and Conch want area youth to know that they have a safe space with them, and as support workers they are there to stand beside them as they make their own choices.
"I love having the opportunity to meet people where they are," said Rogers. "There is so much opportunity out there for folks, my favourite part of what I do is providing that space for them to develop that within themselves."
"I feel that a lot of the youth we see are not necessarily engaged in sports or other ways, and so those are who we are trying to reach out to," added Conch. "The goal is to lift them up, so they feel like they have a place in this community. I think there is a large population of neglected youth, and it is because of that neglect that they don't feel involved, considered, which can result in behaviour that is often viewed as alarming. It is my understand that such behaviour stems from not feeling supported, welcomed, or safe, so if we are able to meet some of those goals, then we had a banging summer. I hope the youth we see, realize that this space is theirs, that we are here for them, and that their voice is truly valuable."
The YLC is just one of programs that are being offered to residents of the Cowichan Lake area this summer. A support circle for families with gender diverse youth is already underway and meets Wednesday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m.
Starting the same week as YLC, other youth programs for ages 13 though 18 include Theatre Troupe, which will take place on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. starting July 9, and Wild n Well, which runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., starting July 8.
All programs are offered at no cost to participants. For more information on all the resources CLCS offers call (250) 749-6822, or to be a part of one of this summer's programs email either conch@comserv.org or rachel@comserv.org.
Since moving to the valley, Conch has also become a volunteer with Pride Cowichan, and noticed they were making decisions for young people. As a support worker she was asked for her views, and suggested they have a youth representative on their board. She was able to facilitate that connection and role with the young person from The Rainbow Tea who was the inspiration for starting up the YLC, and has since agreed to become that youth voice for Cowichan Pride.
"We see a lot of disconnect between I'm a young person with a blunt opinion, and those offering services," said Conch. "That example of being a connector to where a youth's voice would have an impact, that is what the Youth Leadership Committee is all about."
