Harmony
LINKS
This year’s Harmony LINKS retreat will take place on October 2-4, 2009 at Cedar Ridge Camp in McArthur Mills, Ontario, three-hours North-East of Toronto, just outside of Bancroft, Ontario. Registration deadline is September 18th, 2009.
Allowing youth to acquire knowledge, leadership, and confidence while networking with other students, and building diversity initiatives for their schools
Overview
LINKS is an educational leadership retreat, focusing on diversity, equity, personal growth and youth empowerment.
The program fosters an understanding of diversity and equity issues within schools and communities, and incorporates in-depth learning activities on topics and issues relevant to youth and youth culture.
LINKS empowers youth to take a stance against stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, racism and other forms of hatred by enhancing their knowledge and leadership skills.
By developing a network of youth leaders, participants become agents of positive social change within their schools and communities.
Goals and Objectives
LINKS connects students from across the GTA and creates lasting partnerships between Harmony student leaders from different schools. The retreat will foster the growth of a Harmony community that will result in building positive relations between students, their schools and their communities.
During the weekend retreat, LINKS participants will:
- Obtain a variety of sustainable tools, strategies and action plans to take back to their schools.
- Meet and network with other student leaders.
- Receive diversity training on different topics and themes, including ideas of self, “normal” vs. “other”, leadership, power and privilege, and media literacy.
- Expand their leadership role as well as their knowledge about how to be an effective leader.
- Develop new and exciting programs and training opportunities that they can use to create Harmony clubs at their schools.
- Create resources for their schools and new initiatives for their communities.
And much more!
Who Benefits
The retreat is open to all students who are in grades 10-12. Schools who have previously participated in our Diversity Leadership Certificate Program (DLCP) are especially encouraged to send program graduates to receive additional diversity and leadership training and to refresh their knowledge of issues addressed in the program.
Participants will gain valuable tools to take back to their school as well as additional leadership training which they can use to establish a “Harmony Club” at their school.
LINKS was created because of the passion and dedication that students have demonstrated in eliminating the barriers that prevent all people from becoming equal members of society. We believe youth are our future and their voices should be heard!
What Campers Are Saying
“I always had confidence to be myself but I never really had the courage to stand up for my beliefs and make a change in my school community. LINKS helped me learn how to do just that.”
Grade 9 Student, Anderson CVI, Durham District School Board
“It gave me confidence in myself to want to create change. And I’m pretty sure it would do the same for any other student that goes.”
Grade 11 Student, Bendale B.T.I., Toronto District School Board
“What I liked about this retreat was the interaction and strategy building, which was done in a fun and active way.”
Grade 12 Student, Our Lady of Mount Carmel S.S., Dufferin-Peel District School Board
“I liked that everyone was so open about their ideas, it taught me how to be more open with myself.”
Grade 11 Student, Ursula Franklin Academy, Toronto District School Board
“It gave me confidence I needed to win important battles like discrimination.”
Grade 10 Student, Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy, York Catholic District School Board
