As a second generation Katmavik participant, I am disappointed that the federal government has cut funding to a program that has spanned over the course of 35 years and has been praised by the United Nations for its youth service.
This astounding non-profit organization sends a diverse number of youth volunteers among the ages 17 to 21 from all over the country to different communities to become full-time volunteers for various organizations.
This program is the real thing. Katimavik provides a strong emphasis on community involvement, leadership and giving awareness to Canadian youth. Showing that as Canadians, we are not that much different from each other.
Signing up for Katimavik was a huge highlight of my youth. I was given the chance to live in Quebec, The Northwest Territories and Ontario, each placement giving me something different to work with and making me into a better person.
I urge past alumni, future participants, community organizations here in Parksville who have benefited from their services in the past or just the average taxpayer who agrees that this program does have a place in our country to contact our local MP James Lunney, Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to encourage them to re-consider cutting this essential program.
Sarah Chezick
Parksville
