The St. Anthony and Area Boys and Girls Club was awarded an IGA grant for their project “Active Youth, Active Communities” this past year. Since receiving the grant, the club has been able to do quite a number of new things.
Ten instructors (seniors and youth) were trained by professionals in dance, yoga, and power lifting. The training was completed in St. John’s and St. Anthony by instructors, and they will be providing ongoing follow ups as needed.
Seniors in the community provided youth with education on how to set a community garden and properly care for it. This included a trip to a local greenhouse where the youth were encouraged to learn the process of gardening. The group also planted a new flower garden to brighten up the club’s surroundings.
A community health nurse gave sessions to youth about diseases related to obesity and provided them with information on healthy lifestyles and bodies. Additionally, seniors helped with a healthy snack and cooking program.
Weekly recreational activities were implemented as part of the club’s after school and evening program. Each day there was an arts and crafts project as well as an activity such as dance, yoga, street hockey, and unstructured play. On average, 50-70 members participate in this program.
Finally, staff at the club received Mental Health First Aid Training offered by Labrador-Grenfell Health. The staff then developed a mental health program with a self esteem workshop called “Choose to Shine”. The workshop was made to encourage youth to see positivity and uniqueness in themselves.
The IGA congratulates St. Anthony Boys’ and Girls’ Club for taking on this initiative!
