Hi, my name is Branden Hardisty and I am 17 years old. I completed the Canadian phase of NYA back in 2016 and this year I am in the Next program. In the Next Program we stay at Algonquin Collage in Ottawa where we learn all sorts of things including construction and building. During the construction class I learned how to use tool and machines and built a dog house. We also got to learn about healthy living, nutrition and physical activity. Also in a few weeks we’ll be going to Montreal for sigh seeing before we head back to re-orientation. We have engaged as volunteer doing a service learning project, participated in fun activates around Ottawa, and competed a personal learning project which is based on our career interests. I’m really excited for my personal learning project as I am going to take Spanish lesson as it has always been a goal for me to learn another language. We also went camping which I had a great time at. The program has really helped me prepare for the next steps after high school. I am glad I got the chance to be apart of the NYA program again this year and I hope the rest of my summer goes well.

Hi everyone, my name is Kat and I am currently with on the International phase of the NYA in Costa Rica which is so beautiful and pure. The saying of Pura Vida is really true to its word “pure life” “good life” which is a beautiful saying here in Costa Rica. The adventures that we go on are always different and new which makes this experience so much fun. The other day we did a presentation to the Canadian embassy in Costa Rica everything went really well.
The first week we were here it was pretty hard to believe that we were actually in Costa Rica as it took awhile to actually feel like I’m in a different country.

This week the group is going to be volunteering our time with an non-profit organization called “lifting hands”. It was a lot of fun working there as we go to help with the kids and played some soccer with the locals. It was very interesting because the boys only spoke Spanish but we eventually understood what was going on. I’m looking forward spending more of my time volunteering.
It’s been about 3 weeks since we got here in the next few days we’re going to be on a 13 day hike which is going to be intense although I’m excited to be more connected to the land.
Being here in Costa Rica makes me want to fully learn how to speak in Spanish.I’m looking forward on finishing this international program with everyone that’s on the team and have a memorable experiencing to look back on!
Pura Vida.

Hi my name is Sadeedi Gargan. I am from Fort Providence and I am 16 years old. I am a 2017 NYA participant in the Canadian program. My experience down south has been awesome. I get to do stuff that I don’t really get to do in my community.

My host family is so awesome! They take good care of Matt and I, and ask if we are ok! There so sweet! I am having such a great time with them. They always have some fun activities to do in Belleville. I am so grateful that Billy and Maggie took Matt and I into their beautiful home! You da best!

My work placement is in a thrift store called Salvation Army. My work placement has been great so far, I met some interesting new people. At my work, I help sort clothes and other stuff. Some days I go upstairs and help the lady’s in the kitchen by cutting up vegetables and clean up for them!
My co workers have been really great to me asking if I’m ok and if I had my breaks! They are all so nice!

The activities I mostly do in Belleville include walks with Billy, Maggie and Monty, going skateboarding, going shopping at the mall, and working outI try to go out as much as possible and this Saturday I am going to a foam fest which I am so excited!

I am loving it here in Belleville and I am also really enjoying myself this summer, making new friends and memories! I am having a great experience so far and I can’t wait to here about everyone else’s!

Hi, my name is Patricia Wedawin and I am in the International phase of Northern Youth Abroad. This year we are in Costa Rica and it is beautiful. The trip from Ottawa to Costa Rica was very long, but worth it as we saw San Jose from above and it was breath taking. We seen waves of the Pacific Ocean crashing shores, miles and miles of big green trees and mountains. We met our tour guide, Jimmy, at the San Jose airport and he showed us a little part of San Jose shortly after settling into our place at United World College.  The next day we had to leave to CIRENAS which is a centre that creates transformative connections between people and the environment through education, research, integration and innovation. We travelled by a ferry, then walked on a beach to CIRENAS for an hour and a half while a vehicle had our luggage. You could imagine what we felt, mesmerized by the waves and salt-tasting air. When we arrived at CIRENAS, we were welcomed with loads of food and water and a natural kind of juice with electrolytes in it. Then the group spilt up into cabins, one for the boys, another for the girls, and all three chaperones in another. We then had an introduction to the center and a lecture about Costa Ricans, who are called “Ticos”. Then we ended our night at the beach watching the sunset while swimming, which was my first time swimming in an ocean. The sunset was the most beautiful one I have ever seen. We had a horseback riding tour the next day through Hacienda Ario to explore the sabanero way of llife at Nicoya Peninsula. We’re having a great time learning so many new things about Costa Rica and also about each other. Some are already fearing the goodbyes we’re going to have to endure at the end of the program. But we’re looking forward to our next adventures at United World College.

Hi my name is Jame Duncan and I’m from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. I am currently 18 years old and am doing the NYA NEXT Program!

In this program I have had the opportunity to see a lot of the beautiful city of Ottawa and particularly have enjoying visiting Parliament Hill. Our group is currently living on residence at Algonquin Collage and we have been taking a lot interesting classes including construction class. In this class I learned how to make a picture frame and am currently working towards completing a dog house. I’m really enjoying these classes and learning a lot from them.

One of my favorite things I’ve done while in Ottawa is enjoy a beaver tail which is a delicious pastry with different toppings on it depending on which kind you get. I got the Oreo flavored beaver tail and strongly recommend it.

One weekend we went camping and got the chance to go canoeing and swimming which was a lot of fun. My friend DJ and I also played volleyball on the trip with a group of people that were already playing and let us join. Both of us really enjoyed playing and the people we played with were super nice.

I’m looking forward to visiting Montreal and going back to camp for re-orientation to see all the other participants in the NYA program. I am also looking forward to completing the program and going home to share all my experience with friends and family.

My name is Des Beaulieu and I am from Inuvik, Northwest Territories. NYA’s Canadian Program has given me the opportunity to experience life in the South for five weeks. I have been place in Port Alberni to volunteer full time at the Friendship Centre.

My host parent have two daughter and a beautiful home. They also have three cats, a dog, and a fish. I don’t have any pets back home so it’s a nice change. My host family has experience living in the North, so it’s cool to talk to them about it once in a while. We’ve been to many places on Vancouver island so far such as Nanaimo and Ucluelet, along with Mclean Mill, and camping at Mussel Beach.

Working at the Friendship Centre has been a great experience overall. The culture, the people, the land, are all amazing. I had a change to help out with the Culture Camp at Qualicum Campground and it was really nice to see how many people showed up, helped out, and had fun. I did one of my presentations there and it wasn’t as scary as I’d originally though it would be. The people in the circle were welcoming and respectful. This positive experience with public speaking helped a lot and has made me more comfortable for my next presentation and something I’m looking forward to.

On my first day, I worked in the Out of School program with a couple of the summer students. There were about 20 kids and this daycare was used to having about seven as the most when it first started. Working with children isn’t my forte, and I din’t think I’d make through the five weeks if I was going to work in the daycare everyday. Thankfully, after speaking to my supervisor, he understood that I didn’t work well with children and would rather be in more of an office setting. Since then I’ve been helping with the morning parenting programs, preparing meals, and working in the office in the afternoons. The people at the centre have their own little quirks and mannerisms that make working in the office an enjoyable place to be.

My favourite party about doing volunteer work here in Port Alberni is learning about the differences in culture and lifestyle, talking about eh similarities, sharing stories, and just connecting with different people.

I would definitely come back to Port Alberni one day. It’s a wonderful place and there’s a lot to do in or around the community. I’d recommend NYA to anyone in the North who is interested in gaining experience living and working in Souther Canada.

Sally, right, with fellow NYA Next Participant Rahabi at NYA’s Orientation Camp in Ottawa. (Photo Credit: Thorsten Gohl)

My summer of 2016 is going well. I met new friends from NU & NWT and I already knew some from last year in 2015. At orientation we had fun activities like ice breakers to get to know everyone. We played one game where we were passing a ball to each other and memorizing who we gave the ball to. We had to say “thank you” and the name of the person who gave us the ball, then say “here you go” and the name of the next person we were passing it to. It was fun and we kept getting mixed up. The second week we met Mexican people also living at Algonquin College. It was their first day here and we were glad to meet them and we became good friends with all of them. Camping was a good experience too, cause it was my first time to camp in the city, but when we got there it was hardcore raining and we were setting up tents. The next day camping we went to the beach to go swimming then we got to go kayaking and canoeing. It was also my first time kayaking & canoeing and it was really fun. It’s always good to try new things. The last night of camping at around 1:35am our tent almost fell on us. It was raining too so four of us had to fix it. I went to go wake up the two leaders to go help so they did, and when we were done someone saw a frog that was almost going in the tent & she freaked out. She was like “omg omg the frog might go in!” while jumping hahahha! I thought she was going to faint or fall but she didn’t hahahha! but at the end it was ok. Bec the Executive Director had the NYA Nexters over for dinner and I loved it. It was sooo good, especially the desserts. When we were done we got to talk around with everyone. Summer is going well so far and I love it so much. We’re surrounded by good people and we support each other. Carpentry is going well too. I like learning new things and I finished constructing my picture frame. We learned how & what to use for the wood. Thank you for your time for reading this haha 🙂