Nervous about speaking in public?

Want to learn about things like urban arts & culture, sustainability or diversity?

How about how to fundraise for your project or talk to the media?

Want to be part of a great network of inspiring young people from all over Vancouver?

enter …

What is YouthPolitik?

YouthPolitik is the City of Vancouver’s civic education and civic leadership development program for young Vancouverites.

The program is FREE and open to all Vancouver residents between the ages of 15 and 20.

Click here to watch a video about YouthPolitik!

What happens in YouthPolitik?

In YouthPolitik, participants explore how our City’s government works and important issues that our city faces. They build leadership skills and get a hands-on experience in local governance, politics and project development.

YouthPolitik participants speak up about issues that matter to them, work with community leaders, putco leadership skills into practice and join a great team of active young community leaders from all over Vancouver.

Participants take part in a variety of workshops, interactive games and fiel d trips such as…

• Interactive sessions with elected officials, City staff and community leaders

• Explorations of local government and pressing local issues such as Urban sustainability, Multiculturalism and diversity, Housing and homelessness, etc. 

• Skill-building workshops on topics, such as Public speaking, Debating, Project development, Fundraising, Communication strategies, etc.

• Opportunities for participants to develop their own proposals for youth-led projects to create meaningful change in their communities

• Opportunities to present these proposals to elected offici als, City staff and community organizers for feedback and possible collaboration

• Connections to get involved in municipal government and the community

• Events & activities as YouthPolitik alumni

How long is YouthPolitik?

Questions? Check out our YouthPolitik FAQs.

YouthPolitik is offered in three different formats − a 3½ month semester, a 2½ day conference and customized workshops. Participants can choose for themselves which format is right for them.

YouthPolitik Semesters

This is a full 3½ month format. In a YouthPolitik Semester, up to 80 Vancouver residents aged 15-20 take part in weekly evening sessions. They participate together in civic education workshops; explore social, environmental, economic and cultural issues facing Vancouver; develop & practice leadership skills; and work together to develop project ideas. Semester participants also have opportunities to work with elected officials and other community leaders through special events such as role-playing City Council, Park Board and School Board.

To see photos from the 2006 YouthPolitik program, click here.

YouthPolitik Conferences

This is a condensed 2-day conference format, offering a selection of civic education, urban issues, communication skills and project leadership skills workshops for up to 200 Vancouver residents aged 15-20.

YouthPolitik Workshops

Customized community workshops allow youth who don't feel comfortable in large group settings or youth who can't easily access either formats an opportunity to still be part of the program in a meaningful way that's adapted to fit their needs. If you're interested in hosting a customized workshop, please get in touch with us!

Got questions?

For more information about YouthPolitik, please check out our FAQs. If you have any questions or are interested in hosting a workshop, please contact Dhaneva Panday at dhaneva.panday@vancouver.ca .