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Since starting out 15 years ago as a small group that identified child-friendly businesses, Child and Youth Friendly Calgary (CYFC) has grown into a youth-volunteer juggernaut.
Executive director Penny Hume, along with Joanne James of the Calgary International Children’s Festival, started CYFC after being inspired by a similar program in Edinburgh.
“It all began when we started a program whereby we accredited businesses that welcomed children and youth,” says Hume. “Then, through a series of events, we took a different path.”
More like many different paths.
Each year, about 2,500 youth log 55,000 volunteer hours for 140 non-profits. In addition, CYFC runs 10 programs, including the Calgary Youth Foundation, the Youth Volunteer Corps in Schools, YouthScape and a mayor’s council of 30 12- to 18-year-olds who share ideas and concerns with the mayor and different city departments.
“The Youth Volunteer Corps is our biggest program,” says Hume. “You see kids from a wide variety of backgrounds, from young offenders to International Baccalaureate students, working together.”
Their reasons for chipping in vary, including wanting to meet friends, performing required community service hours, fulfilling a strong personal commitment and helping others. But no matter their motives for being there, the outcome is the same — they help make life better for the people of Calgary.
“We work with 140 different non-profits, doing just about everything from painting faces to stocking shelves at the food bank, to looking after children . . . it’s really the whole gamut of volunteering,” says Hume.
Despite the much-maligned reputation of today’s youth in popular media, Hume and CYFC not only saw their capacities, but also found a way to maximize them. “I realized that there were a lot of young people who had a lot of time on their hands and had a lot of potential to contribute right now — not in the future,” says Hume.
With these young people, the future is now.
Abbi M. Singh
For inspiring others with his young-at-heart effort
Karo
For being pro bono pros
Parent Support Association
For its unique contribution to keeping parents' sanity
Simon Madhol Atem
For fighting for peace
Dr. Maria Eriksen
For giving, and giving, and giving
MEOW Foundation
For doing the most with the least
Peter Mauro
For sharing a love of music
The Pumphouse Theatres Society
For cultivating the arts
Paul Hagel
For being on board
The Alexandra Community Health Centre
For building a healthier community
Momentum
For providing a caring push
Donna Kreese
For coordinating volunteers
First Calgary Savings
For being a small-but-mighty corporate leader
Jack Redekop
For Making the Family Leisure Centre a model of community-based sustainability
Sharon Moore
For focusing on people, not programs
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