Canada Recognizes 20 Youth under 20 and Pairs Them with Mentors

Canada recognizes 20 youth under 20 and will pair them with Order of Canada Award Recipients as mentors for the upcoming year. Soliciting applications from all the country, 20 youth were chosen for their volunteerism and selected by Youth in Motion. In existence for the past five years, this is the first year award winners will be paired with mentors.

"Ms. Peoples says the Top 20 program is a strong reminder that there is much to be celebrated about today's youth".
"All we have to do is turn on the TV or radio and we hear all the negativity associated with young people — cyber-bullying, guns, violence, disenchanted me generation," she notes."Hopefully, Top 20 Under 20 is a domino effect about the good things. There are a lot of very talented, very positive young people that are doing just incredible things."

To read more about this exciting program, click here.

Governor's Office Seeking Youth to Serve on Statewide Youth Council - Applications Due May 30, 2008

Governor Patrick's Office is seeking 28 youth (2 youth from each of the 14 counties in the Commonwealth) to serve on the Governor's Statewide Youth Council. "The Governor’s Statewide Youth Council is one part of Governor Patrick's commitment to engaging all citizens of the Commonwealth in their communities and their government. The Youth Council initiative will encourage and motivate young people to be involved in their communities and to participate in problem solving through assuming leadership and planning roles. Once established, the Youth Council will focus on the Governor’s priorities of education, economic development, civic engagement, and community outreach, advising the Governor as representatives of all Massachusetts young people. Young people ages 14-20 are encouraged to apply by May 30, 2008."

* Learn more about the Statewide Youth Council
* Apply to be a Youth Council member
* Contact the Youth Council

For those of you who work with young people ages 14-20, this might be a great opportunity for them to help advise the Governor's office on how best to support their needs.

Some text courtesy of the Governor's Office website.

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes Seeks Nominations

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2008 awards.

The Barron Prize honors young people between the ages of 8 and 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Each year, the Barron Prize selects ten winners from across the United States — five focused on helping their communities and fellow beings, and the other five focused on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment.

Nominees must be the prime mover of a service activity and have demonstrated positive spirit and high moral purpose in accomplishing their goals. Nominees must be nominated by a responsible adult who has solid knowledge of the young person's heroic activities and is not related to the nominee.

The ten national winners will each receive $2,000 to support their service work or higher education.

For more information and/or to nominate a young person, visit the Barron Prize Web site. The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2008.

Thanks to the Center for Teen Empowerment for sharing this listing.

Youth at Large Ambassadors Being Sought for Olympics in Beijing

The American Young Ambassadors Program, LTD. (AYAL) is seeking 30 accomplished high school students ages 15-18 ()as of 11/08 and also must be a US citizen) to act as Ambassadors for two weeks for the Beijing Summer Olympics in China. A history of strong community service among other attributes are being sought. Applications are due March 3, 2008.