Actua in the North
- At risk youth
- Employment
- Health education
- Economic development
- Education
- Youth development
- Youth leadership
Jennifer
Flanagan
Jennifer Flanagan
Actua
, ON
Yes
First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.
Non-profit organization.
More than 5 years
From the Yukon, across the Northwest Territories, to Nunavut, Actua annually inspires thousands of Aboriginal youth to achieve their potential through STEM.
Expanding (it has been running for a while, has grown, you know it is making a difference and now you want to expand)
Actua in the North offers a positive, safe environment where youth are free to experiment and learn from their mistakes.This hands-on, real-life approach increases curiosity and confidence and invites youth to explore and achieve the exciting academic and career opportunities available to them across a variety of STEM fields.
Involving local leaders, Elders, and Aboriginal instructors provides youth with exceptional role models and creates a shared experience among the community. At the same time, through our culturally relevant content, we facilitate the science of local and regional development so that youth understand how local development affects them. It also enables youth to comprehend the role they may play as participants in a strong and diverse local workforce.
Beyond growing our program, we will strengthen our impact by returning to communities we already serve.
In five years, as a result of Actua in the North:
- An additional 15,000 to 20,000 Aboriginal youth will have increased confidence and desire to pursue studies in STEM fields;
- Northern youth will have a greater awareness of the STEM career opportunities available to them in their local communities and across the country;
- We will have promoted healthy living and Northern health science careers, inspiring Northern youth to pursue their dreams in these critical fields.
Actua partners with local schools to deliver hundreds of workshops. We also partner with local communities and community organizations (Hamlet offices, Inuit associations, Friendship Centres) to deliver week-long camps throughout the summer. Communities promote the camps locally and provide access to suitable camp locations. In turn, all programs are provided free of charge.
Local Elders, parents and volunteers bring traditional knowledge and cultural experiences to our camps. Through partnerships with cultural organizations such as the Nunavut Sivuniksavut Program, we hire local Aboriginal students to assist us with program delivery. In addition to being role models, they are also cultural liaisons.
Actua will be working to strengthen its relationships with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and regional Inuit associations. We also hope to develop stronger relations with Aboriginal organizations in Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories as we continue to expand our programming. These partnerships are absolutely essential as we work to ensure that our programming meets the local needs and interests of the communities we engage.
Actua’s community and cultural partners provide a variety of in-kind support that facilitates the delivery of northern programming. Camps and workshops often take place at local community centres or schools that are offered free of charge through relationships with our member and Aboriginal community organizations. Actua also receives assistance from volunteers including high school students and local residents. Many of our community contacts in the north also provide local travel and accommodations to our outreach staff.
Yes (answer the next two questions)