The Office of the Ombudsman is hosting a conference for young people in Halifax on Saturday, Oct. 14. The Youth Summit is designed to hear from young people about their diverse backgrounds and interests.
“At this event we will do most of the listening. The Youth Summit delegates will do most of the talking,” said Ombudsman Bill Smith. “We want to engage with young people from across the province to get their sense of what we can best do for them. We recognize the risks of projecting our own thinking and views.”
Wisdom2Action, a Dalhousie University-based group dedicated to youth engagement and service, will help facilitate the event.
“There is a renewed commitment provincially, nationally and internationally to engaging young people in the decisions that affect them in schools, community and government,” said Lisa Lachance, executive director, Wisdom2Action. “The Youth Summit will give young people an opportunity to collectively reflect on what matters to them in Nova Scotia right now.”
Delegates were chosen to attend the summit with the help of numerous community groups including schools, youth support organizations and agencies serving vulnerable young people.
“An objective of the summit is an ongoing and engaged group of young people who will advise the Office of the Ombudsman on the needs and concerns of youth,” said Mr. Smith. “We want to work more closely with young people and we believe we can begin with a summit that welcomes their stories, questions, and ideas.”