The Atlantic Co-operative Youth Leadership (ACYL) program will be postponing this years 3rd and final youth seminar in Bishop’s Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador. Due to insufficient enrollment and last minute hurdles we will be forced to re-schedule this event for 2009.
We encourage all youth who have expressed interest in the ACYL program to contact Trevor MacDougall at leadership@acyl.coop to reserve a spot in an upcoming leadership event. Please visit http://www.acyl.coop/english/newsletter.htm for details on future seminars.
ACYL and its dedicated volunteer and supporters look forward to a very successful 2009.
Co-operatives are founded on a basic concept: That people, no matter what economic class or educational level, know what is best for them and can work together to meet their own needs. Collectively, there are over 10,000 co-operatives and credit unions in Canada, providing products and services to over 10 million Canadians. Worldwide, some 750,000 cooperatives serve 730 million members.
Share your co-op month or Credit Union day stories and have them posted on next months e-newsletter.
THE WALL
A Taste of the ACYL Blog
He has won the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Award, the World Economic GLT Award, the Worlds Children’s Prize for the Rights of Children, the Roosevelt Freedom Medal, the Governor General’s Medal for Meritorious Service, the State of the World Forum Award, and two honorary doctorates. This man has many books, including his New York Times best seller, “Me to We” and has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
So who is this man? Founder of Free the Children, Craig Kielburger of course. Starting as the 12-Twelve-Year-Olds, this organization has reached over one million people, built over 500 schools collectively in over 43 countries which send over 50,000 students to school daily. His other efforts with FTC have provided clean water for remote villages, alternative income for women in slums, and free volunteer medical clinics.
Now, humour me for a second. Imagine being in the deepest, most remote part of the Amazon rainforest. You come across a village of indigenous people. Their skin, mother tongue, and culture are so different, but yet, the first thing the children greet you with is a High-Five.
A High-Five you wonder? Why yes indeed, which, by the way, was the way Mr. Kielburger started his entire presentation off, was getting us to stand up and High-Five five people before we sat down again. “Unorthodox” I think was the word he used. I agree, but it was effective at bringing, us, the audience closer together, as more of a group then a bunch of people, which made the whole experience a lot more intimate, given the amount of people.
Speaking of which, community was a popular word he used. One fine example he had, was in a remote village, and I’m talking, a single goat trail up kind or remote, there’s that has been around for as long as the tribe has, called Minga. Now this word, when shouted by the village Elder, would bring people from neighbouring villages together for the common good of the people, not matter what. This word unfortunately does not have an English equivalent, but I’m particularly fond of “A Riot, except for Good”. He also talked about Teambuilding and what can happen when people work together. The results are nothing short of phenomenal.
For example, 1.1 Billion people live under the line of absolute poverty, defined by the UN as less than one dollar a day. These people still need to pay bills, to eat, and pay for rent. They don’t have the money to spare, to get a proper education. “If I could have one wish granted, it would be that these children get to wake up and go to school instead of work”. A big wish coming from the even bigger heart of Mr. Kielburger himself, and with the number of schools already built, slowly but surely, this dream will become reality soon enough.
All the number breakdowns were mind-blowing and the stories made you laugh and made you want to cry. But perhaps the highlight of the presentation was his retelling of his encounter with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. During Mr. Kielburger’s second year at university, after he had stopped reading newspapers because of his dislike for the depressing headlines, the Archbishop said “College boy, you’re looking at it the wrong way”. He said that he believed that the newspaper headlines were God’s “To-Do” list. You don’t need to have any kind of religious faith to see that this man has a point.
I must say, I completely agree. Whether it is God, Mr Kielburger, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, or you, or myself, these headlines of despair and grief are just another challenge awaiting someone to come along and help.
So if it’s starting something in your school, or taking an idea to your local official, start something. And remember, no matter how hard things get, there is always someone there to help.
To comment on Nate White’s (ACYL Alumni – CUCNB sponsored) blog post, please submit to leadership@acyl.coop
WHAT TO EXPECT AT TALENT NIGHT….Wow!
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Book Reviews (kind of)
As promised in last months so called book review I will now introduce you to Hank Green. Brother to now, very famous author John Green (Looking for Alaska, an Abundance of Katherines, and soon to be released Paper Towns). These two young men are self-proclaimed Nerdfighters – their goal is fight for AWESOME and decrease worldsuck. And so, without further ado, let me introduce you to…..
Bloggers Needed
ACYL is looking for bloggers! Is there anyone interested in givin’ it a shot, if so give me a shout! A big thank you goes out to Liam, Patrick, Blake, Bethany, Matt and Megan who will be blogging for ACYL. WICKED! Great response so far!
THE ‘GOOD STUFF’
Design your ideal Credit Union and you could WIN* You can also find more information on Facebook ~ group name is "It Belongs to Me" Contest
OMISTA Credit Union recognizes the importance of education
Offering financial aid to those pursuing higher education empowers students to successfully obtain their career objectives. And it is for this reason OMISTA awarded seventeen $500 bursaries in June to owners, children of owners, or grandchildren of owners attending eligible post-secondary institutions for a total of $8500! The OMISTA Credit Union Bursary Program is designed to assist students in financial need. This is the primary consideration however leadership, not only in academic pursuits but also in citizenship and volunteerism, are also considerations.
This year’s 17 OMISTA Credit Union Bursary Winners are: Samantha Arseneau, Emily Boyle, Emily Colpitts, Jessy Donelle, Justin Harrison, Jessica Hodder, Kimberly MacLean, Mitchell McHarg, Christopher Meunier, Ryan Morrisey, Chris Norris, Jordan Nowlan, Amanda Pooley, Timothy Saulnier, Amanda Smith, Tessica Steeves, and Erin Sullivan
East Coast Credit Union digs deep for youth
East Coast Credit Union continues the tradition of supporting our schools and youth members by awarding high school bursaries to a number of Grade XII applicants.
We are pleased to honor the graduates for their contribution to their school and community. East Coast Credit Union’s Bursary Program donated a total of
$15,350 to 40 high school graduates in 8 different High Schools in Cape Breton and North Eastern Nova Scotia.
These funds were advanced through the auspices of seven Community Committees of East Coast Credit Union. The committees consist of volunteers whose mandate is: “To serve as a medium for member education and input to enhance the cultural and economic needs of our communities.” Click the East Coast Credit Union for photos of bursary winners.
We are also one of Canada’s most successful worker-owned businesses based on a firm belief in “people and the planet before profits”.
Fair Trade is an innovative model for international trade, which offers not only a fair price, but respect and empowerment for Third World producers.
All Just Us! products – coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar – are grown naturally, without chemicals, to enhance the well-being of farmers, their communities, the environment and wild-life.
ACYL is looking for bloggers! Is there anyone interested in givin’ it a shot, if so give me a shout! A big thank you goes out to Liam, Patrick, Blake, Bethany, Matt and Megan who will be blogging for ACYL. WICKED! Great response so far!
