Awareness education and prevention around gambling issues. developmentally appropriate presentations for 4 age groups (8-10 years, 11-14 years, 15-18 years, 19-24 years). workshops for parents, guardians, role models and professionals involved in youth's. YMCA Academy Middle/High School Youth Housing YSAP Youth Gambling Awareness Program Youth 4 Youth (Gambling Education Program). The YMCA Community Action Network (YCAN) is looking to support YOU to team up, develop and deliver projects that.

On June 7, we celebrated the top 3 contestants in our Award Ceremony for the annual Youth 4 Youth Digital Media Contest. The contest encourages youth between the ages of 18 and 24 to raise awareness of youth gambling, youth problem gambling, and the support resources available to them.

This year’s topic was the blurred lines between gambling and gaming. Contestants were asked to create a poster and video that would shine a light on the topic among their peers. A panel of contest organizers, a jury of youth volunteers (ages 15-18), and a public voting period were used to select the winners.

Here’s what our winners had to say about the contest:

1st place winner: exposing misconceptions about online poker games

Lucas Watts won first place with his video submission that exposes how online poker games are very similar to other video games played by youth. These similarities blur the lines between gambling and gaming. Lucas’ video demonstrates the potential risks of online poker apps if harm reduction strategies are not used and points viewers to the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s Youth Gambling Awareness Program.

Lucas, who is originally from Brantford, Ontario, developed an interest in videography and photography while he was a student at the University of Ottawa, where he studied philosophy and psychology.

Before participating in the contest, Lucas knew about some of the risks of online poker games since some of his friends play them. But he didn’t realize these risks posed problems for many youths.

The contest also helped Lucas discover what he is truly capable of accomplishing when he sets his mind to something.

Ymca Youth Gambling Project Charter

“The lesson is that if you [commit] to something, it can pay off and work out,” says Lucas.

2^nd place winner: exploring the ways gambling is embedded in video games

Charlotte Durnford-Dionne and Hailey Asquin of Team Huron St. Creative won second place with their video that reveals the ways that gambling is embedded into video games.

Both Charlotte and Hailey are recent graduates from OCAD University in Toronto, where Charlotte studied advertising and Hailey studied graphic design. Participating in the contest allowed Charlotte to create video content for the first time and Hailey, who taught herself videography and photography in her first year of university, was excited by the opportunity to work with Charlotte on a creative project.

Participating in the contest opened Hailey and Charlotte’s eyes to the entire sector of gambling. They now know why spending money to open loot boxes or paying for a second chance at a level in a video game can be considered gambling activities. The team has also learned ways to reduce the harm associated with these activities, like setting time and money limits.

Ymca Youth Gambling Project Runway

Both teammates say the contest helped them feel more knowledgeable and comfortable when discussing gambling and gaming.

“I am not a gamer, so this was an area of knowledge I was lacking in. I also had never made a video before, so that was a whole new skill I learned,” says Charlotte.

“If the topic of gambling and gaming came up in conversation, I would feel more equipped to talk about it,” says Hailey.

3rd place winner: a closer look at Freemium Model games

In their video, best friends Sarah Wilson and Brian Mestdagh from London, Ontario discussed how Freemium Models are a form of gambling. Freemium Models allow players to pay for additional chances at levels in games. But because the outcome of the level is still random, players are risking something of value.

Sarah, who works as a freelance videographer and as a certified sales specialist at Best Buy, has represented her high school in regional and provincial videography contests. In September, Sarah will be continuing her education at Fanshawe College for TV Broadcasting and Film Production.

Brian is currently enrolled in Fanshawe College for Police Foundations and also works as a Sony master and salesperson at Henry’s Camera Store. He has been a visual creator for many years and has worked at events like the Juno Awards.

“When we saw the topic was gambling, we immediately thought of poker and casinos…Now, we understand that gambling activities can be hidden in everyday activities that we [participate] in like video games and online games,” says Brian.

Brian explains that the team also “learned how to receive feedback and apply it to effectively get a message across” through participating in the contest.

Sarah adds the contest also helped them discover what direction they want to go in the future with their passion for filmmaking.

Register for the next round of the contest

Use your creativity to raise awareness of gambling issues! Registration opens on August 15, 2019, for the next round of the Youth 4 Youth Digital Media Contest.

Mary Riley, Youth Coordinator at YMCA Hampton Youth Project reflects on delivering youth work in the rather different Summer of 2020 leading into the current Autumn lockdown.

Ymca Youth Gambling Project Guidelines

Coming out of the first lockdown period

Over the summer period we provided detached work in the local park, unfortunately, the weather was not always kind to us but we persevered with the sessions and were able to engage with small groups of young people to conduct art and crafts and badminton sessions.

Although the country was still in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic, this did not stop us from reopening our doors in September to the young people of Hampton. The activities had to change, with young people not being allowed to play football and basketball indoors. Our sessions remained the same by providing much-needed respite and the opportunity to socialise with friends. You read can read more about the impact of Covid 19 on young people in our recent report.

Unfortunately, the impact of the Coronavirus had an impact on service delivery and the numbers of young people we are allowed to work with (maximum 15 including staff). The team had to be creative to ensure as many members have an opportunity to attend the club. So, we divided each session into two parts. However, this still had a knock-on effect and we did lose some of our members who previously regularly came to play sports.

Initially, it was not easy for staff and young people to adjust to the new normal and settle back into club life. Especially with all the rules and regulations around social distancing, wearing masks, and hand sanitizing; even for the staff. We found ourselves continuously having to remind members to wear their masks and to sanitize hands.

Reopening

Although we did reopen, it was somewhat difficult for members, particularly a lot of the boys and young men who have been unable to play the sports they love such as football or basketball. For many of our girls and young women who loved to engage in cooking activities. As a staff team, we have worked hard to encourage the participation of young people in the limited activities we were able to offer. It was great to see our members once again and check in with them face to face.

Youth achievement

One of the projects chosen by one of our two successful Jack Petchey awardees who were awarded The Jack Petchey Achievement Award during the first lockdown period, the funds have gone towards a creative art project and currently, our young people are busy painting and transforming the upstairs room into an art room, with murals that have been designed by one of the awardees and a senior female member.

Work with girls and young women

Our Girls and Young Women group restarted in the earlier part of October, continuing our Partnership work with Crossways delivering sessions on Body image, Self- esteem building, and being creative in making their own fabric face masks, these sessions have seen a few male members taking up sewing by hand and machine.

Invaluable support from our volunteers

I would like to take this moment to say a very Big Thank You to Tom Thomas one of our volunteers who went above and beyond to teach members virtually how to play guitar throughout the summer months, you have been amazing teaching these four young people of beginner and intermediate levels how to play the guitar two afternoons a week, and that three of whom are still continuing their sessions one afternoon a week now that we are open.

Voices of hope and Brite Box

Throughout the summer ten families following an invitation from Voices of Hope who work in partnership with the Brite Box Project gave ten young people the opportunity to prepare and cook well- balanced and healthy meals with members of their family, we are continuing with the project and giving some of our newer members the opportunity to be part of the project continuing to post their videos on the club’s social media pages.

Black History Month 2020

We celebrated Black History Month by posting daily information of Historical figures past and present; Black Inventors and Achievers, African Kings and Queens, and Caribbean recipe dishes on our social media pages and complemented this with an Information display within the youth club.

November Lockdown

With a new lockdown now in place, the next few weeks and months are going to be a challenge for both young people and staff, and as a staff team. We will continue to do our very best to support our young members with their emotional and mental well-being. Also to take care of ourselves and continue to drive home the message of the importance of face masks, sanitizing, and social distancing to our members through our virtual interactions until we can once again open our doors to the young people of Hampton.

Mary Riley
Youth Coordinator at YMCA St Paul’s Group, based at YMCA Hampton Youth Project

Visit us on our social media channels Facebook & Instagram for more details.

November 2020