Toronto – Youth Challenge International will be offering a program in Grenada starting in

late September 2006. Scholarships ranging from $2400 to $3400 will be made available to

those applicants with special skills in youth mobilization, early childhood education and

similar areas. Youth with experience in youth development or Caribbean-Canadian youth

are strongly encouraged to apply!

The program on the island of Carriacou was set up following a series of hurricanes that smashed

the island. Canadian youth volunteers have been helping with recovery efforts by pitching in with

local groups to assist in disaster recovery and improving the social and economic welfare of the

region. Since 2005, YCI Volunteers have worked alongside members of the Program for

Adolescent Mothers (PAM), the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA), Mt. Pleasant

Grand Bay Youth Committee and the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD).

Ms Denise Guy, Executive Director of NaDMA said in March that YCI “is really the first group of

foot soldiers we’ve had in Carriacou to make the effort in going door-to-door and educating

people about hurricane safety…thank you!” With the 2006 hurricane season already affecting the

Caribbean islands, much work is anticipated for YCI volunteers in the fall as they assist the 6000

residents of Carriacou in restoring order to this small island of 21 square kilometers.

“Grenada needs more organizations like YCI”, said Mrs. Denyse Ogilvie, an officer with the ARD

based in Carriacou. YCI has also been congratulated by local leaders for their efforts to bridge

the generational gap between youth and elders with the aim of improving communications

between these two groups so that youth are involved in decision-making in their communities.

“We are keenly interested in involving youth with a Caribbean background in our Grenada

program.” says Rebecca Lee, YCI’s Volunteer Program Manager. To support this, YCI has

established scholarships for Volunteers who are of Caribbean heritage. Scholarship funds are

also available to youth who are involved in a youth-serving organization, whether they are a camp

counsellor, a youth mentor or a volunteer working with youth. Youth who are interested in

applying should visit the Youth Challenge International website at www.yci.org.

Financial support for the program is provided by the Canadian International Development

Agency.

About Youth Challenge International

YCI is celebrating its 16 th Anniversary as a leading Toronto based non-profit youth development

and educational institution. It builds the skills, experience and confidence of young people by

involving them in substantive overseas development projects in partnership with local youth-serving

organizations. It has active programs that impact youth in Canada, Africa, Central and

South America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific.

For more information about YCI’s activities in Grenada and elsewhere, or to interview program

volunteers, please contact YCI.

Further Information

Rebecca Lee

Volunteer Program Manager

416 504 3370 X 313

rebecca@yci.org