Katimavik

Phil introduced Nina Phillips, the program director for Katimavik in Midland and a past Rotary exchange student from Charlottetown to Switzerland.

She said thanks for the welcome and that she has been here for a few weeks and is enjoying a new place.  She has travelled and volunteered in several places in Canada and abroad and enjoys new and formative experiences.  She is a recent U of T grad and was drawn to this job because she feels youth have a great capacity to make a positive change.  She feels that volunteering young makes people more mature and more willing to engage.

Katimavik is open to youth between the ages of 17 and 21 and they participate for 6 months, spending 3 months in each of two places.  The groups represent Canada's cultural and regional diversity and the aim is to strengthen the kids interpersonal skills, their environmental awareness, their physical wellbeing and their understanding of other parts of the country.  The household is made up of 12 people and they take care of themselves - cooking (from scratch), cleaning, budgeting etc.  

This is her first experience with Katimavik but the organiztion has been coming to Midland for 3 years now.  As they rotate through there will be 4 different groups staying in Midland during the year.  She works to manage the dynamics of the group and to ensure they are active by liaising with the community and finding them volunteer work.  They put in a 40 hour week and try to involve them in things that play to their strengths as well as things that will teach them skills as the emphasis is on learning.  She has them pretty well scheduled in activities around the area but is always looking for an event or project that could use up to 11 volunteers.  

The kids, as they work here, assess community needs and try to develop a project they can carry out that will enhance the community.  They are billeted on local families for a week or more as a futher introduction to the area.  Each group is welcomed with a party and this one will be held at Katimavik house, at 1034 Victoria St., on July 27.  The program is multifaceted and intensive.

The program is funded by the government but the organization is trying to diversify its sources.  She welcomes visitors to the house and asks that members consider what the participants might do while they are here.