The simple matter of respect amazed some of the youths in south-central Saskatchewan who took leadership training this past year.
A common reaction from the 74 teenagers was delight at the way they were treated like adults.
One 14 year old commented that “even small people have big voices.” Another teen said they learned to get things done for themselves.
The teens didn’t know others would listen to them, said Marjorie Nagel, one of the adults leading the pilot project.
Since the training, several of the small town youths have come up with programs to improve their communities, such as a social centre for youth, abuse education and activities involving seniors.
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The youth group in Ogema is applying for a provincial recreation grant to set up a handball clinic. The Mossbank group wants to open a movie theatre and on Jan. 15 got the keys to a building donated by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
In Kincaid, young people are renovating the theatre equipment but also planned some town beautification, such as painting old buildings and cleaning up empty lots.
“Pride and respect are two of the things coming out,” Nagel said.
“The objective is to increase the sense of the community and self-esteem and we’re meeting those objectives.”
Nagel said she hopes that youth will help their communities develop a more positive outlook.
“They see empty houses and farmyards. It’s really taking a toll on the feeling of success.”
The training sessions started after a request from students at the Assiniboia high school to hear someone speak about stress. That turned into a desire to learn leadership skills and Nagel, under the auspices of her employer, the Badlands Recreation Association, went looking for funding and a program.
Nagel found $60,000 in a federal government program and hired motivational speaker John Spencer. Nagel had heard Spencer speak to farmers about setting goals.
“I thought of John’s style and presentation and thought it would be a good fit. The kids bond to him very, very well.”
Spencer, whose energetic presentations are full of anecdotes and common sense, said he had to adjust his talks to fit youth life examples. He joked that the main difference between an adult audience and a teenage one is that “the kids listen to what you say.”
The consultant from Clavet, Sask., saw the youths develop a new belief in the possibilities of their home towns. He said a survey of rural youths showed most were going to leave Saskatchewan to find a job.
Even the communities that had jobs available found the same perception – teens said they had to leave to be “forward thinking.” Now, they are considering Saskatchewan a place with opportunity.
Spencer said that lesson would work well for rural youths across the Prairies, which is why he and Nagel are willing to take their training program wherever they may be invited and paid, since the pilot funding has run out.
“I’ve been working 31 years as a professional agrologist in this province and I’ve never done anything in my career that’s as exciting,” Spencer said.
One of the side benefits of the program is its encouragement of mentoring. The young people who are trained are expected to do a project that involves and trains younger kids.
Grade 12 student Sarah Waiting of Limerick, Sask., who took the training last spring, said she learned “different ways to become a leader.” Some people are good at planning, others at speaking and others at action. The goal is to involve them all.
Her group is planning to tidy up the school playground this spring by painting hopscotch squares and getting ideas from the younger students about what they’d like.
Waiting said the training can help young people build a stronger commitment to their community. But Waiting said the towns must have jobs to hold the youths.
She is planning to become a teacher but has not decided if she will work in a rural area.
