NEWS: COMPUTERS AT MULTICULTURAL YOUTH CENTRE
Community Access Program
The Multicultural Youth Centre now has two youth interns to supervise students using our computers. The interns have been working at the Community Access Program (CAP) site since last September. For the first time, our youth drop-in center has regular staff to train and help youths using computers after-hours. They train and assist new users, and provide technical support. They also helped to develop guidelines for those using the computers.
The CAP site has been quite busy now that we have regular after-school hours. During the day, the general public can use the computers when office staff are present. After hours, youths are the priority. If there is a crowd waiting, they take turns to share time.
Most of the users to date have been Aboriginal students from “up north”. We have done some publicity at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, to let the boarding students know they can have free access to computers. We are promoting the Youth Center as a safe place for them to hang out, meet new friends from other cultures, and stay out of trouble. Using computers is an ideal pass-time, and resource for assignments, homework, to browse the net, and for e-mails. Sending e-mails is a cheap and convenient way to communicate with friends and other folks back home. Computers also provide entertainment—playing games, listening to music, watching videos, etc. This counters the boredom many youths claim contributes to problems.
It is unfortunate that, currently half of the 10 computers donated by the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation are out of commission, and we are seeking funds to have them repaired. The ‘public’ computers complement the three we bought with funds from Fednor to enhance the CAP site. Fednor also contributes to the cost of internet access.
To deal with the current shortage of computers, the Youth Centre provides alternative activities. Students can use the ‘restaurant-style’ set up for dong homework, tutoring, playing card games, or watching live entertainment –karaoke. We also have television sets in the main room to watch movies.
We are pleased that the back room where the ten computers are situated also has a big-screen television set. The theatre-style arrangement is ideal for watching movies. We are averaging 130 youths using the computers on a regular basis each month. More youths are now coming to mix and mingle and this keeps the Youth Center busy. We believe that we are doing our part to familiarize more youths with computers, train them, as well as keep them busy. Through all this, we are helping to keep the youth occupied and off the streets at night.