Winkler's Parkland Elementary School Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) group has put its support behind a mental health project in the community.
    
Thanks to a matching grant from the Winkler Community Foundation, the YIP group was able to present a cheque for $2,000 to Eden Health Care Services. The funds will be used for a green space project at Eden's Enns Court Supported Housing Apartments on Pembina Avenue.

Jacinda Young presenting the $2,000 cheque to Eden Health Care Services CEO Analyn Einerson"I think mental health is something that is not highly focused on, especially in this community," said YIP member Jacinda Young.  "Everyone has something, so I think it's very important that we draw more attention from our community to mental health."

Young, who is in grade 8 and in her last year on the school's leadership team, said mental health is a very personal thing for her and her family, and that prompted her to bring the idea of supporting the Enns Court project to her YIP peers.  "I wanted to focus on something that I think people could relate to, but we hadn't done before."

Camryn Dunseath, another member of the Youth Leadership team, said they learned a lot through the initiative to support the Enns Court project.  "Mental health is very important," said Dunseath.  "It's as important as physical health, and you should help wherever you can."

To raise funds throughout the school year, the Parkland Youth Leadership Team ran a number of bake sales, and also held a penny carnival.

Eden Health Care Services CEO, Analyn Einerson called the actions of the youth very impressive.  "The youth are so creative and they're always out there looking for ways to help the community," said Einerson.  "Part of that too is who their teachers are, who their parents are, and looking at that community partnership. And it's good to start young."

Einerson said the goal behind the green space is to create a play structure for the families with young children that live at Enns Court.  With a play area not in close proximity to Enns Court, a play structure will make it easier for the kids to enjoy play time right outside their front door, and also make it easier for parents to join them. She said it creates an instant way to play between parents and child, and she said that's very important in relationship building.  "And we're maybe also talking about people with mental health challenges, so it sometimes may be hard for them to come outside.  But if it's right there, it's easier for them to do that, and that's part of that holistic healing."

At this point there is not a firm timeline for the green space project, however, the goal is to take care of planning and design over the summer, with hopes of erecting the play structure next year.

The green space area between the two Eden Enns Court Supported Housing Apartments where the play structure will be erected