How quickly things can change. I think we have learned so much from the last two years of living in a pandemic and our ability to change direction yet stay the course.
In December, the Youth Internship Program (YIP) followed the instructions in the diocesan COVID Communique and moved from in person to online gatherings. Work placements wherever possible moved to be placements done from home. Our second anti-racism leadership session happened on Zoom instead of in person at St Aidan’s, as did our Faith Formation session on Jan, 3.
We continue to meet via zoom for our sessions and recently, we met for a very timely session on mental health. Until the Diocese moves from our Modified Stage Red protocols, we will continue to meet virtually for all YIP related activities.
We received funding from the Johanniter Humanitarian Group and All Saints Greely to cover the cost of eight YIP participants to take ASK (Assessing Suicide in Kids). This workshop is able to be delivered virtually and will take place Feb. 3 and 4. Unfortunately we have to re-schedule SafeTALK and very likely ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) as these workshops must be delivered in person. https://www.talktoolstraining.com/applied-suicide-intervention-skills-training-asist and https://www.talktoolstraining.com/safetalk
The Johanniter Humanitarian Group will be covering the cost of both those workshops for YIP participants.
During this time of isolation, we are taking advantage of technology to bring us closer together by meeting weekly to check in, playing games, offering prayers and attending Zoom or Uber conference Church with each other. We plan to participate in a Lenten film series called 12Neighbors: https://www.12neighborsfilms.com/aboutus. We have extended an invitation to the YIP mentors to join us both at zoom church and the film series.
We so have lots to be look forward to; Bishop Shane will be attending our Faith Formation session in May, and we continue to plan for our weekend retreat at Gracefield Christian Camp and Retreat Centre in June.
If you have any questions about YIP or think you might be interested in being a participant or hosting an intern for a work placement, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.”