YAMAN - Youth Advisory Manitoba Action Network
What Happens When You Engage Youth?

By: Christine Dobbs

In the May of 1999, we received approval from the federal government to manage a project to assist in the development of a government youth website. The government wanted to engage youth (aged 15 – 30) in the project, and engage them for real.

And that’s how a volunteer youth advisory committee, YAMAN, the Youth Advisory Manitoba Action Network was born. Initially, it was all about creating a website, a one-stop access to online information, but it soon turned into much more than that. We formed a network making sure it was a diverse group of young people and full of keeners who were excited about the opportunity to influence government in youth service and programs.

Seventeen young people including high school, college and university students, entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, single parents, and rural, urban, aboriginal, and francophone youth, volunteered as part of YAMAN. The team meets about four times a year. Some members have come and gone, but the core of this group remains four years later, and has been an excellent group to work with. .

What has this group done to influence government? One of the first major YAMAN decisions was the naming of a new Provincial youth website. Ian Scott, from Red River College, came up with the winning name, MB4Youth.

Annually, YAMAN plays an integral part in Manitoba Prospects, a Manitoba tabloid with a target audience of over 10,000 youth.

YAMAN had input into the information and categories for the Federal Government Website www.youth.gc.ca. They played a role in important marketing decisions from the best tools to the colours and design that would be most effective in promoting the website.

When a new website and project sponsored by Volunteer Manitoba and promoting the importance of volunteering needed a slogan, guess who they called? YAMAN strikes again! YAMAN member Teri-Marie VanderLinde came up with MY TIME, MY CHOICE, the winning slogan for the MYVOP - Manitoba Youth Volunteer Opportunity Project.

Along with leaving their mark on government and their communities in numerous ways, these 17 youth volunteers have impacted society by volunteering their time. For example, Albert Cater, our Northern YAMAN representative, has gone the extra mile to volunteer his services by reaching out to northern youth and promoting the programs and services found on youth.gc.ca

They can now take their YAMAN experiences and add them to their résumés. Along with making new friends and creating a network, any employer would be thrilled to hear about their ability to contribute to a team.

If you’re a dynamic youth who wants to make a difference, what are you waiting for? YAMAN needs you. Give us a call!