Youth Peer is a project that hums. Visiting one of the sessions that take place every weekday from 4 to 6 is like stepping into a large, beautifully functional family. For youth clients, volunteers, university students, junior and senior staff, management partners and administrators, it is simply an enriching place to be. 
To sum up in a sentence what can truly only be experienced, Youth Peer provides a supportive place for at-risk youth, ages 8 - 18, to be tutored and mentored by volunteers who are close to their age.
It is this relationship—youth and peer mentor—that sparks the magic that happens here. After an hour of one-on-one tutoring, the magic continues into the second hour with guitar instruction, creative art projects, games and—very important—eating!
Socializing with university and high school mentors, staff and other youth is a big part of the learning process for clients. Young people want to come back because they know they are not only welcomed but also accepted unconditionally as “part of the family.”
INFORMATION
Youth Peer Program
What:
free after-school peer tutoring/mentoring, with art and music instruction
Who:
students ages 8 - 18, referred by a partner agency
When:
4-6 PM, Monday - Friday
late September - early June
Where:
Ashby Complex
266 Whitney Avenue
Sydney, NS
Contact:
Barb Donovan, Director
902 539-8228
902 539-7407 (fax)
ypp@syd.eastlink.ca
HISTORY
In 1998, EPIC adopted Peer Literacy tutoring program from Island Community Justice (ICJ) (then called Island Alternative Measures). The program had been operating for two years, but funding had run out. 
ICJ knew the program was making a difference in the lives of their young clients and they didn’t want to see the program die. EPIC Supervisor, Barry Waldman and the EPIC Board of Directors decided that this initiative was a perfect match for his young charity. Barry hired staff—including Director Barb Donovan (left)—and pieced together funding. A new peer tutoring program began under EPIC’s proudly watchful eye. It has been in operation now for over eleven years with many changes along the way, but the basics of peer tutoring have been constant.
Clients, staff, former staff & clients, community partners at the 10th Anniversary party, March 2006
HOW IT WORKS
Each September, Director, Barb Donovan and Volunteer Coordinator, Wendy MacDonald (below right) begin to organize another year of tutoring matches. 
Volunteer tutors from local high schools and Cape Breton University are recruited (though many return from year to year) and trained. At the same time, clients are also being lined up. All the students that come to Youth Peer are referred by one of the twenty-two Management Team partner agencies. These agencies span the range of social, health and educational services for youth in the area, so it is likely that any young person who needs the help of Youth Peer will be able to get it. There is no charge for Youth Peer services. Barb interviews each referral and his or her parent individually. The kids are invited to come—never pressured—and they are asked to sign a simple statement of Freedoms and Expectations which outlines the guidelines of behaviour governing youth and staff. Behavioural problems at the centre are extremely rare.
By late September/early October, the tutoring matches are beginning. They take place every week day from 4 to 6 pm in three rooms at Ashby Complex—an in-kind contribution of space donated to EPIC and Youth Peer by the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board. This is no “drop-in” centre as all students are carefully matched with “their” volunteer and asked to come on a specific day that is appropriate to their age and needs.
In addition to Barb and Wendy, the staff includes part-time Youth Assistants whose job it is to make sure that the sessions run smoothly. For the 2007-2008 school year, the assistants are (pictured below in order) Adam MacLean, Kayla Wood, Richard Mayich.
With Wendy as their immediate supervisor, they make reminder calls, prepare snacks, help the tutors, fill in when necessary, and clean up the mess when it’s over! Youth Peer has been lucky to find wonderful assistants in the ranks of our loyal volunteers.
Also on staff, meet Creative Arts Instructor, Susanne Donovan and Guitar Instructor, Emile Conn who further the student’s education, enrichment and exposure to the arts.
NEW THIS YEAR
Beginning in September 2007, Elizabeth Broderick (below right) joined the Youth Peer team as a part-time Educator. 
It is Elizabeth’s job to help selected students by providing wrap-around support. This is accomplished by communicating with student, tutor, YPP staff, parents, guardians, teachers, school personnel and representatives of other appropriate community agencies in order to enhance positive interactions and develop sustainable strategies for the on-going support and ultimate success of any targeted student.
THE MAGIC
One-on-one academic tutoring takes place during the first hour of the sessions. The matched student/tutor quietly work on whatever that client most needs. 
Tutors are trained to respond not only to the academic needs of the client, but also to their emotional state—not as a therapist—but as a friend. In other words, if the youth is having a bad day and can’t concentrate on math, the tutor is empowered to switch to something more suitable and less stressful for that day. At Youth Peer, the belief is—and experience has shown—that the student benefits more from the attention and demonstrated caring of their peer mentor than from a sole focus on academics. Having said that, the rooms during that first hour are calm and organized. The youth clients are generally only too happy to work quietly with their tutor, one-on-one.
The second hour is for:
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MUSIC
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CREATIVE ARTS
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EDUCATIONAL GAMES
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SOCIALIZING & SNACKING
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LEARNING TOGETHER
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BIRTHDAYS
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GENERALIZED GOOFINESS
See more pictures and get information about the
Volunteers of Youth Peer
If you are a high school or university-aged student in the Cape Breton area and would like to be a volunteer with Youth Peer, please call Barb or Wendy at 902 539-8228 or email: ypp@syd.eastlink.ca
Ten Years of Memories
credits:
original ‘bird/book’ Youth Peer logo by Blake MacLean, former volunteer.
“The little program with a big heart” is a quote from a Volunteer Canada online article about the Youth Peer Transformation project; written Spring, 2004; Volunteer Canada was one of the funders during the 2003-2004 year. More information on EPIC funding.
