The majority of youth participating in the Boys and Girls Club of Red Deer and District are feeling more confident as the result of participating in the program’s activities.
Les Waite, program manager for the Boys and Girls Club of Red Deer and District, said they recently polled youth to find out their response to programs.
A total of 97 per cent of children, aged seven to 12, reported being able to make more positive choices as a result of what they learned from the programs, said Waite.
The survey also showed that 94 per cent of this age category felt more confident since starting the program.
A total of 73 per cent of teens reported felt more confident after starting the Boys and Girls Club program.
The Boys and Girls Club of Red Deer, which has about 1,000 members through Red Deer and region, offers youth various programs including the chance to go to camp.
Waite was speaking about Red Deer’s survey in relation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada survey released on May 23.
The national survey polled 3,000 youth aged eight to 24 on what makes them feel confident. A total of 83 per cent felt they can make a difference in the world.
“It really reinforced that we need to support youth to help them discover and develop their skills and their aspirations,” said Waite. “We need to engage them in many ways as we can. All of us in the community can help mentor them.”
Waite said one interesting fact was that youth feel less listened to by adults as they get older.
The survey showed that 80 per cent of children aged eight to 12 felt that adults listened to their worries, but only 66 per cent of those aged 13 to 17 and 25 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 felt the same way.
The survey, conducted by international research consultancy GlobeScan, is said to be one of the most comprehensive of its kind ever conducted in Canada and one of the first to listen to children aged eight to 12.
Across the age spectrum, 42 per cent said that feeling loved builds their confidence.
The next reasons for being confident were: 37 per cent of youth aged eight to 12 say that being good at something is an important factor in feeling good about themselves; 34 per cent of youth aged 13 to 17 are confident when they are doing well in school; and 30 per cent of young adults aged 18 to 24 say that being recognized for something they did well makes them feel more confident.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com