ABOUT
The Youth Navigator Program aims to work with youth leaders in newcomer communities in Edmonton to build skills in mentorship, community engagement and professional leadership. The Youth Navigator Program is a collaboration between REACH Edmonton, the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and cultural community groups across Edmonton. The Ethnocultural communities collaborating on this project include cultural leaders representing Somali, Sundanese, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Syrian and Oromo.
TRAINING
Throughout the summer Youth Navigator Program, youth leaders partake in training sessions that aim to support them in building skills around the following:
- LGBTQ+
- Allyship
- Mental Health
- Mentoring
- Challenging our History of Canada
- Effective Messaging
- Personal Safety
- Community Safety
- Policing Practices with the Edmonton
- Police Service
YOUTH COHORT
Ethnocultural leaders work with each other to select youth leaders in their community based on their community involvement and their past participation in the Police and Youth Engagement Program (PYEP).
Outside of the PYEP community, Ethnocultural leaders are also working on developing stronger relationships with LGBTQ2S+ communities in Edmonton. Newcomer youth from these communities are invited to take part in the program as well.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
BY THE COMMUNITY
The Youth Navigator Program is part of the REACH Immigrant and Refugee Initiative (RIRI). RIRI has been engaging with Ethnocultural communities in Edmonton by connecting them to resources and services to support them with the issues that matter most to them.
Support culturally appropriate community building through the natural support model with settlement and broker service systems.
RIRI identifies and implements systems change drivers that creates an environment that is conducive to newcomer and vulnerable population integration resulting in safer communities.
This work merges the family violence prevention work and Police and Youth Engagement Program in a holistic community development practice.
2020 YOUTH NAVIGATORS
RAWAN ALHENDI
I help new comers families and youth. I want to support the youth who need my help.
MOATAZ AL OKLAH
I want to help youth newcomers in their school and personal life so they can find work and take good care of themselves
ABDIRIZAK IBRAHIM
I feel like I belong in the community because I was once a new comer too. I like helping newcomers just like I got helped when I was a newcomer.
SARON KAHSAY
My place in the community is to engage with others and build valuable relationships. I'm here to support youth in my community with whatever they need.
KAMOI LYNGO
My place in the community is building healthy relationships one at a time. I want to help empower the youth in my community.
HANAN MOHAMED
Hanan Mohamed is highly organized, self-motivated, an enthusiastic learner and dedicated to her Oromo community. She is currently attending Concordia University and hopes to work in the human services field.
ZAMZAM NUR
My place in my community is a volunteer. I have an interest in helping others, and seeing how others are facing isolation and the worlds current state.
MINA OGOT
My place within the community is to engage with youth and community leaders. I'm looking to improve my leadership skills and to support the needs of my community.
SAHRA SIAD
My place in the community is that of a volunteer. I want to see how everyone is handling the current situation and to see what I can to do help others during these difficult times.
ELYON TECLEMARIAM
I engage with youth and leaders in my community and provide support. I do this to give back to those who have given so much to me.
PROGRAM LEADERS
HELEN RUSICH
Helen Rusich is the Project Manager of REACH Immigrant & Refugee Initiatives. She works closely with intercultural communities to address systems change at REACH Edmonton.
ALI MAHDI
Ali is a program coordinator at REACH Edmonton and supports the REACH Immigrant and Refugee Initiative.
CHELSEA BURKE
Chelsea is the Education Lead with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and has a degree in Education from the University of Alberta with a minor in Social Studies.
JAIME CALAYO
Jaime is part of REACH Edmonton and supports the Youth Navigator Program with community engagement.