- About Youth Vital Signs
- Who We Are
- Background
- Key Findings and Grades
- Arts Scene
- Going Green
- Poverty
- Youth Voice
- Youth Spaces
- Health and Well-being
- Youth Housing and Homelessness
- Education and Learning
- Safety
- Employment and Training
- Transportation
- Culture, Identity and Belonging
- Mobile Text Survey
- Grader Profile
- Differences Among Us
- Youth in Action
- Links to Community and Resources
- Find Us
Key Findings and Grades - Culture, Identity and Belonging
FAST FACTS
Sense of Belonging
A sense of connection and belonging is critical to the healthy development of children and youth. More than 14,000 children and youth who live outside their parents’ homes or in government care in B.C. may experience a disruption in their ability to forge a sense of belonging.
Source: Champions for Children and Youth: Report on the 2008 B.C. Summit
Young Refugees
Vancouver is one of the most popular landing places for refugees in B.C. In 2008, over 800 government-assisted refugees from 24 different countries arrived in our city — 327 of these refugees were under 18. Refugee youth have extraordinary needs: learning English, dealing with trauma, and learning a new way of life.
Source: GAR Bulletins, Immigrant Services Society of B.C.
Aboriginal Youth
Aboriginal youth age 15 to 19 are the fastest growing segment of the youth population in B.C. Their numbers rose 22% from 2001 to 2006. This change raises the profile of issues affecting Aboriginal youth, especially those in urban areas.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
YOUTH IN ACTION
MY Circle
The Immigrant Services Society of B.C. created the Multicultural Youth Circle (MY Circle) to train leaders to run peer-support workshops for fellow immigrants and refugee youth. Over 300 youth have done the training, and many formed Action Teams to work on projects like the video UFO: Unidentified Foreign Object, about hardships newcomers face in Vancouver.
www.issbc.org