"It's very clear the pandemic has taken a toll on our young people over the past year," according to Chris Sumner, President of the Altona Community Foundation (ACF).

ACF recently hosted a virtual discussion with area young people as part of the RBC Future Launch Community Challenge. The goal was to give youth in Altona and the Municipality of Rhineland a place to speak on the key issues they are currently facing and how those can be addressed. The discussion often shifted to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Based on the conversation we had, the top two issues currently facing youth in our area are the loss of connection to the greater community, and more closely, in-person social interaction with friends and peers." Sumner adds, “Another issue identified was a lack of motivation created by the conditions brought on by the pandemic, specifically the uncertainty regarding what the future will hold for young people, whether it's entering the job market or post-secondary schooling.”
Sumner says a third factor caught them off guard.

"We were also surprised to hear a significant number of young people found their internet access impacted their online learning negatively or somewhat negatively over the past year, which the youth participants said was only compounded further by some having difficulty accessing a connected device," noted Sumner. "They stressed those two issues added to the disconnect and social isolation some are feeling."

The conversation led to the development of several ideas which could help reconnect youth to the community and foster the in-person social interaction they are missing. Those included the delivery of lemonade to every student at the high school as a way to show young people how they are being thought about. Another idea was a community-wide food drive, or some sort of community celebration when public health orders allow.

"We were moved by the open, thoughtful and sincere commentary/feedback from the youth participants.,” says Sumner. “Their well-articulated thoughts are what made the conversation what it was," said Sumner. "It was an eye-opening conversation, and the willingness to share their personal experiences from over the past year was sincerely appreciated."

Participants in the virtual Vital Conversation included representatives from Altona Community Foundation, RBC, Town of Altona, Municipality of Rhineland, W.C. Miller Collegiate and Altona YFC/The Station