Fundraiser targets better integration of ‘isolated’ teens – By James Jeffrey, Calgary Herald
At-risk teens staying in Calgary shelters can’t find jobs because of the social stigma surrounding homeless youth, according to some nursing students who are trying to draw attention the issue.
Because of their experiences with Boys and Girls Club shelters during a practicum, eight third-year nursing students from the University of Calgary are creating an awareness campaign to better integrate homeless youth into mainstream society.
“A lot of people don’t understand that youth are homeless, or that there even are shelters,” said nursing student Samantha Arnott.
The students, along with their nursing instructor, conducted an assessment with residents and workers from various shelters earlier this year.
During their discussions with the shelters’ youth–who are aged 13 to 17–the students focused on what the teens were currently dealing with, and not on what had landed them in the shelters.
According to Shazin Charania, a youth worker with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary, youth staying at the shelters are embarrassed or scared to include the phone number and address of a shelter on job applications.
It’s a legitimate concern considering the negative sentiment of the general public toward homeless youth, said Charania.
“There weren’t a lot of businesses willing to take on employing the (at-risk) youth,” said nursing instructor Aliyah Mawji, who noted an informal survey indicated employers in Calgary believe it’s too much of a risk to employ them.
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The goal isn’t just to raise awareness of the issue, though. Learning how to affect change in a positive way at the community level has been a valuable lesson for the prospective nurses.
As a next step in the process, Mawji would like to develop relationships with various businesses in Calgary, putting the at-risk teens in contact with those willing to em-ploy them.
Ismailimail 