Youth engagement and capacity building is a key component of the Fraser Basin Council. Since 2006, the FBC Youth Program has been focusing on building capacity for youth to engage in sustainability initiatives, deepen understanding on complex issues, gain skills, and access opportunities to take on leadership roles to serve their communities. FBC’s vision for youth engagement is for youth and young adults to actively participate in and contribute to social, environmental, and economic well-being in communities throughout the Fraser Basin and across BC.
We create spaces and opportunities for youth 15-30 from all walks of life and all socio-economic backgrounds to participate in building better and more inclusive communities.
What We Do
Experiential and Hands-on Learning: Through our cohort style initiatives, youth collaborate on replicable climate solutions for their BC Communities. Our team provides a supportive environment for youth to take risks leading their own climate projects for participants learn skills to build their capacity to be impactful climate leaders. We have collaborated with artists, Indigenous facilitators and knowledge holders to engage youth experiencing barriers in community building initiatives through art and reconnecting youth with their cultural heritage.
Elevating Youth Voices in Policy, Governance and Decision-making: Youth must be involved in important conversations that impact their future. At FBC, we ensure youth voices are part of our internal decision-making process by supporting a youth representative on our Board of Directors and by consulting with our BC province wide Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). We collaborate with Provincial and local government partners, to design youth friendly activities to facilitate learning about local area plans.
Creative thinking and storytelling for change: Storytelling is a powerful tool to inspire change and action. The FBC Youth Program has engaged youth through various storytelling approaches including story mapping, video stories, podcasts, youth-led visioning graphics, art contests and blog posts. The Down to You podcast tells stories shared by youth about reducing their climate footprint and offering inspiring solutions for a net-zero future. My Climate Story, tells stories shared by youth about the impacts of a changing climate on their communities.
Meaningful province-wide networking opportunities: We have extensive experience in delivering climate change and sustainability focused events of all sizes to engage youth interested in climate action with each other as well as with other stakeholders and local leaders.
Collaboration: Collaboration is crucial for addressing the complex challenges we’re facing today. We collaborate with many organizations through various capacities, either on our own initiatives or by helping partners deliver their programs and initiatives.
Who We Are
Sonja Dodig
Program MANAGER
Cherry Tam
Initiatives manager
Lindsay Sackett
Program COORDINATOR
Hollis Nelson
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
