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The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 31, 2006 - 29 Youth centre wants to give a voice to teens By Eryl McCaffrey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The Oakville Youth Development Centre (OYDC) is branching out. For the past four years the centre has been a safe and welcoming environ ment for teenagers to come and hang out. As another form of help ing youth in the Oakville community, the OYDC is going to be publishing a book this June about the experiences and feelings of teenagers. This non-profit organiza tion gives the youth of Oakville an opportunity to be in "a safe and positive environment without get ting kicked out," says Katie Dupuis, Program Co-ordinator for the OYDC. Dupuis and the staff of the OYDC are hoping to publish this book under the title This Is Me in June of 2006. The book will be sub missions from teenagers in Oakville from ages 13-18 to reflect on their own person al views and experiences. Photographs, short fiction, poetry, and artwork are just some of the types of entries being considered by the Centre. Deadline for sub missions is April 14. The OYDC wants to make it clear that the authentic and original work of the teenagers submitted to the making of the book will not be censored or edit ed, if appropriate language and topics are used. "The focus of the book is going to be on teen and youth experiences and feel ings. There will not be a lot of censoring with the work," says Dupuis, who hopes that the book will give the oppor tunity to many teenagers to speak freely about their emotions and who they are as an individual. Dupuis hopes that the publishing and selling of This Is Me will help support the centre's programming expenses, and raise aware ness of the OYDC. She feels that the main goal of the book is to enable youth to illustrate the issues that they deal with as they enter adulthood. "Feelings are apart of the growing up process and it is important to express them in any way that you can,"she says. The submissions should be no longer than 1,000 words and sent in before April 14. Multiple submis sions are permitted and the entries may also be anony mous. As a bonus, submitters will receive a free This Is Me book and an invitation to the book launch this com ing June. Dupuis views this book as a chance for the youth of Oakville to disprove the neg ative stereotypes that many adults often associate with this particular age group. "I thinkJJiere is often a negative connotation that falls beside the general teenage group. It is neces sary for these young adults to express how their experi ences have effected them," she says. Along with this opportu nity for the youth of Oakville, Dupuis hopes to also strengthen the reputa tion of the OYDC as a posi tive environment for teenagers. , Ten submissions have already been obtained, but the Centre hopes to receive more than 25 entries. When describing the atmosphere of the OYDC Dupuis says, "There is an interesting dynamic here because there are no cliques or exclusions. There is very little judgment here and the teens have really formed their own social circle." Dupuis hopes that the same open and non-judgmental feeling will come from the book when people read it. She said businesses can support this project by offer ing venues for the books to be sold, as well* as providing revenues for marketing and advertising their book. Artwork submissions can be e-mailed to katie@oakvilleyouth.ca or mailed to This Is Me, do The Oakville Youth Development Centre, 177 Cross Ave., Unit 3, Oakville, ON, L6J 2W7. With admission to the Centre being free, teens from ages 13 to 18 are allowed to come out for an evening of discussion, fun and games. Art programs as well as free Hip-Hop or even kickboxing lessons are all offered at the OYDC. Support is also offered by the club in the areas of job searching, homework and living arrangements. The OYDC is opened on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 3 p.m. -11 p.m. For more information on the This Is Me book and the OYDC go to www.oakvilleyouth.ca. DRIVING RANGE MEMBERSHIPS Available at $1 0 9 00 L a rg e Basket" Lunch Special 11:30am-1:30pm Monday-Friday (*limit two per person) Check us out for details 1330 Burnhamthorpe Rd. E Oakville, Ontario L6H 5Z9 90 5 .257.6075 www.joshuacreek.ca Design Ideas for Your Home Julie Eldridge Interior Design is offering 8 weeks of classes at the Iroquois Ridge Rec Centre Classes cover colour, room arrangements, furniture, fabrics, styles and more. 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