Peer support network for at-risk youth

This project aims to empower at-risk youth to lead disaster preparedness and response engagements. It aims to ensure that they can lead peaceful lives while strengthening leadership within their communities. The project seeks to achieve this by training at-risk youth in emergency response skills and facilitating their involvement in community outreach and engagement activities. Project activities include: (1) training 40 Youth Emergency Action Committee (YEAC) volunteers to become peer responders; (2) equipping 80 at-risk youths with enhanced emergency response skills through a certified training program; and (3) encouraging collaboration between the 40 YEAC volunteers and 80 at-risk youths on 3 community service and outreach activities providing at-risk youths an opportunity to give back to the community. This project is part of the Local Engagement and Action Fund (LEAF) which supports civil society and local organizations across the Caribbean. The Fund aids them in implementing initiatives that respond to local needs and advance the aims and strategic objectives of Canada’s Caribbean Regional Development Program.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) developed a youth-led peer-support network through the YEAC; (2) provided continuous at-risk youths peer support facilitated by the volunteers beyond the project's lifespan; (3) empowered 80 at-risk youths with emergency response skills such as first aid cardiopulmonary resuscitation fire safety and disaster risk reduction; and (4) engaged at-risk youths in community service and disaster response reducing their risk of involvement in violent activities and increasing their opportunities for self-development.