Hi, my name is Alaasua Audlaluk I am a participant of the NYA Next program. I did my Canadian phase last year and I was placed in St. John’s Newfoundland.

With the NYA Next I am staying at the Algonquin College Residence with 12 other youth and young adults. We are taking a 3 week construction class which I didn’t enjoy in the beginning but learning how to use some tools and other participants helping each other makes it fun. We also volunteered at the Ottawa Mission. Some of us helped volunteer with picking up trash outside the building and some of us helped with making candy bags for the homeless.

We did a presentation on where we are from, our traditional clothing and games to children which was fun. I went to the Lebanese Festival with some of the other participants, we went on rides such as the Starship and Area 51 which was really fun. We also tried different kinds of food. I am hoping to go to the Afro festival next weekend on my free time.

Last weekend we went camping for a night at the Naategamaa camp with other youth, we got to know each other’s culture. We did a medicine walk and learned about what some plants can do, we also had a campfire and ate s’mores and hot dogs while telling stories which I enjoyed. I am also excited to go to Montreal for a few days and explore the city.

Thank you for reading my blog.