Youth Café

AAO Youth Cafe is a new program for youth through Afghan Association of Ontario. This program is designed for youth who are interested in networking with other Afghan youth. The focus of the program is on youth development and youth leadership and disability-related components necessary for youth to participate fully in all aspects of their lives and society. At “AAO Youth Café”, youth will be given the opportunity to come together on the first Sunday of every month to participate in youth activities, have a fresh catered lunch and share their views on many heated discussion topics.

PURPOSE

• To facilitate youth development and youth leadership focusing five major components; working, learning, thriving, connecting and leading
• To provide effective settlement orientation and referral services for newcomer and refugee youth
• To facilitate and deliver Public Education workshops to raise awareness of issues faced by newcomer and refugee youth in the community

PROGRAM SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

AAO youth cafe cover wide range of activities which focus on the youth development and youth leadership in the form of interactive workshops, role model, role play and many other. Following are some of the activities;

1. Career exploration activities including career interest assessment, job shadowing, job and career fairs, and workplace visits and tours.
2. Workshops on benefits and consequences of various health, hygiene, and human development issues, including physical, sexual, and emotional development
3. Role playing adverse situations and how to resolve them.
4. Mentoring activities that connect youth to adult
5. Workshops in public speaking and participation in a debate on a local social issue
6. Resource mapping activities in which youth take the lead in planning and carrying out a search of community resources for youth