Today the Association for New Canadians thanked RBC Foundation for their support of Journey of Hope, an innovative mental health program for newcomer youth. RBC Foundation has donated $190,000 over the last three years to support Journey of Hope and its predecessor program 2Gether Youth Mental Health.
Journey of Hope, which also receives funding from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, offers young people (youth and young adults aged 15-30) the opportunity to expand their mental wellbeing through meaningful art projects, some of which were on display at today’s event. They explore their own personal resiliencies, coping strategies and life journeys; this empowers them to recognize the strength to overcome obstacles put before them.
The youth share their art with small groups of their peers who bring similar stories- creating a sense of community and a social support network that is amicable to expressing feelings and discussing positive mental health strategies to life’s stressors. Journey of Hope is a peer-led program: for example, youth create their own guidelines for interactions.
“We cannot thank RBC Foundation enough for the support of this program,” said Megan Morris, ANC Executive Director. “Journey of Hope helps newcomer youth build a foundation for their lives in Canada, gain skills through training, and uplift other new Canadians as peer supporters. None of this would be possible without RBC Foundation’s vision.”
“We are really proud to support the Journey of Hope program,” said Brent Aitken, RBC’s Regional Vice President Newfoundland & Labrador. “We want to support innovative programs that are in part shaped by youth for youth, and can’t wait to see the significant impact this program has now, and in the years to come.”
A small exhibition of art produced by Journey of Hope participants will remain on display at RBC’s MUN On Campus branch throughout Mental Health Week, May 2-8.