Youth Life Skills Program

The Kw'umut Lelum Youth Life Skills program is an eight week pilot program that has run twice, between January and June, 2005.

The Program was developed to prepare youth in care for healthy and self-reliant lives, in a world of rapid change. The fundamental strategy offered to the youth for understanding the past, managing the present and creating the future, was the connection to their family roots and snuw'uyulh, the youth are expected to find a daily guidance to life's events that will strengthen their thoughts and feelings. This guidance will prepare them for adulthood and their return home.

The Program also works to equip them independent living skills such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, budgeting, paying bills, and volunteering, or serving in their community. After the completion of the program the youth are expected to be able to identify community resources and know how to take advantage of services such as employment agencies and health services.

The 18 youth in the program, ranging from 15-19 years old, were exposed to lessons such as: Listening to Others, Describing Feelings, Giving & Receiving Feedback, Handing Drinking Problems, Setting Goals, and Finding out about Drugs. The program, which included field trips, ran on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. The participants were provided with meals and transportation. The program took place at the Kw'umut Lelum facility.

So far, the Life Skills program has provided to be very important to the youth. It has helped them to participate in groups, share personal experiences, and learn to trust and bond with the other participants. Many have expressed interest in returning to support future groups by sharing their experiences.

As a result of this program we expect  youth will be better able to connect with their families and the community, and ultimately to be happy and healthy parents.

Kw'umut Lelum is considering expanding this program to include all children of the nine member nations.