Youth Activities
Youth Camps
Aside from the cultural and spiritual activities that youth partake in during our camps, there are also a variety of activities for each age group. It is important to make sure the youth are well-rounded. Youth are fully dedicated to doing “seva”, an act of selfless service for everyone around us, especially during these times. This is done by helping the elders with serving food to attendees, setup and cleanup for daily events, planning events and activities, and anything that is required of them. Youth partake in many sports, and arts and crafts, career development and competitive-based activities. These include relay races, Minute to Win It, scavenger hunts, tie-dying, and mosaic creations. Youth also participate in spiritual discourses, discussions related to everyday challenges and how to overcome them, speeches from spiritual leaders and cultural programs.
Youth Information Session for COVID-19
On the onset of the pandemic, a COVID-19 information session was hosted by Anoopam Mission Canada. This session was used as a forum to discuss best practices, COVID-19 guidelines and debunk false and misleading claims of COVID-19. This provided an avenue for youth to learn about the latest scientific findings and research in this space, how to proactively practice social distancing and protocols to follow to prevent the spread of the virus. Many youth engaged in the discussion and asked questions to educate themselves, their families and friends.
Evergreen Brickworks
Anoopam Mission Canada Youth participated in a summer field trip to Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto. Youth learned to use the Toronto subway/bussing system and hiked to their final destination. Youth had the opportunity to explore nature, nurture their friendships and learn more about the City. Youth also explored local food and beverages at the Farmers Market, reflecting on their appreciation for the availability of diverse cultural, traditional and local foods in the City.
Allan Botanical Gardens
Youth gathered at the Allan Botanical Gardens, which has six beautiful indoor greenhouses and a variety of plants, orchids, succulents, cacti and many more, from a variety of international climates. A scavenger hunt was planned for the youth within the gardens where they could learn more about various plants and connect with nature. As part of this activity, a buddy system was developed, pairing one older youth (aged 18 and above) with a younger youth (below 15). This gave opportunities for the older youth to guide and teach the younger children, acting as a mentor. Many of the youth were able to connect with each other on a deeper level, seeking advice and guidance from their mentors.
Bissell’s Hideaway Resort
Families took a long weekend trip to Bissell’s Hideaway Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This was a fun trip for all youth and adults, as there were lots of activities to participate in. Sports were a huge theme for the weekend, and together, attendees played cricket, volleyball, basketball and swimming. Youth were able to connect more with their own and other families, creating a bond that they can take outside of the weekend. This weekend trip allowed families within the community to come together and youth to form bonds with adults with whom they could connect with for advice in any situation. This activity also empowered many family members to lead initiatives and activities and share experiences through speaking.
Anoopam Mission Chefs
During the Winter Break in 2019, the youth decided to get together and have a cook-off! After an overwhelming semester, the time spent together was very much needed. Of the 20 youth who attended, they were split into four teams, varying in gender, age, and school background. The day started with a Bowling activity, as a team-building exercise. Following that, each team was given a $50 budget to make a dinner meal of any cuisine that would feed 5-7 people. The youth had to get their groceries, drive back to the location, cook, and present the dish in front of a panel of judges all within 3 hours. 4 teams, 4 stove burners, 3 hours, and an entire kitchen filled with 20 youth and a whole mess later, it was judging time. Through this activity, the youth learned many life skills. They worked on their time management, efficiency, collaboration, networking, and cooking skills!
Career Development Workshops
Anoopam Mission Canada is dedicated to helping youth do their best in all aspects of life. It is important for us to ensure that our youth have the foundation they need in order to set themselves up for their future careers and success. We have hosted multiple Career Development workshops, where the focus is on job searches and applications, resumes, and interviewing processes. Resume development and tailoring has been a popular demand amongst the youth, which Anoopam Mission Canada has helped with. One-on-one mock interviews are also offered for youth to highlight the appropriate skills and prepare for a real interview.
Weekly Baal Sabhas
Anoopam Mission Canada hosts weekly sabhas for youth of all ages known as Ghanshyam Baal Sabha. The Baal Sabhas are for children aged 4-16 years olds. Children learn useful skills for becoming independent young adults such as interacting with their colleagues, tips for completing their homework and helping their parents with chores around the house, amongst other activities. They also participate in learning important life lessons and skills such as collaboration, respect, patience and practicing forgiveness. Children incorporate these practices into their day-to-day lives.
Weekly Youth Sabhas
Anoopam Mission Canada also hosts weekly sabhas for youth aged 17 and above for spiritual development and growth. These sabhas are to learn about our spiritual practices and beliefs, learn about the Hindu philosophy and have meaningful discussions about all aspects of life. Youth learn about the significance of having a Guru and Spiritual Leader in their lives and how to implement daily rituals and beliefs in day-to-day practices and interactions with others. A buddy system has also been developed between younger and older youths to build connections and bridge the generational gap between parents, young children and youth. More information on these weekly sabhas can be found under the spiritual activities tab.
To learn more on various activities being conducted by Anoopam Mission, please visit our main website.
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