Empower: Youth, Arts and Activism - CATIE

Organization Description:Head & Hands“Lending a Helping Hand Since 1970”Head & Hands is a grassroots, youth-run, health and social service organization for young people.Located in a homely Montreal building, H&H offers free legal, medical and counseling services to youthaged 12 to 25 in a comfortable, confidential and non-judgmental space. In addition to these services,H&H has responded to community needs by running a peer-based youth drop-in center and aYoung Parents program nearby. A street-work program provides outreach to youth who may notwalk through our doors, while sexual health workshops and peer-education trainings are offeredin both French and English schools. Fundamental to our vision is a commitment to providing anenvironment that welcomes youth without discrimination. We facilitate social change and theempowerment of youth based on their current needs within our community and society at large.Project Description:The Sense ProjectWe call our peer-based sex education program: the SenseProject because we wish to help young people to make “sense”of their sexuality, and because we want their sexual (amongother) choices to make "sense"! Our aim is to support Montrealhigh school students between 14 and 17 years of age to have ahealthy sexual development by giving them the information andemotional tools to make empowering choices.InterviewThis feature documents World AIDS Day Activities (2006-2007)launched to support The Sense Project: a peer-based sexual healtheducation in schools (launched officially in 2007). Our art-basedWorld AIDS Day activities (2006-2007) were designed to raiseawareness about the need for HIV/AIDS prevention education inschools and to raise necessary funds for this type of work. At themoment, the Sense Project is sustained by private foundations,individuals and local events. We embrace a “fundraising for socialchange” model which empowers individuals to express theirvalues by donating to initiatives they believe in. Given the currentpolitical context and taboos surrounding youth and sexuality, it isincreasingly difficult to acquire government funding that supportsour mission. Our WAD activities are built into our fundraisingplan and have generated positive results.name :age:location:project/organization:Christina Foisy,Sense Project Coordinator24Montreal, QCThe Sense Project,Head & Hands33