Due to a lack of funding, the Synergy Youth and Community Development Society in Chestermere has announced it will not be able to offer two of its most popular programs in 2022 – the YELL program and the Child Safe Canada babysitting and home-alone certification courses.
Serving Chestermere and southeast Rocky View County, Synergy is a non-profit organization that offers youth-focused programs and services, including internships, leadership training, life skills development, and more. According to the charity’s website, Synergy’s mission is to “empower youth and community groups to build strong connections through relationships, education, leadership, and programming.”
Synergy's executive director Patty Sproule said YELL is a program catered toward local teens aged 13 to 17. The program is highly popular and has been offered in Chestermere for many years. Originally offered by Chestermere's municipal government, Sproule added Synergy took over the program in 2013.
“When we realized we weren't going to have any funding for the YELL program in Chestermere, we received a lot of correspondence from the community, saying 'What the heck?’” she said. “This program has been around for so long and it's so important to our community and gives back to the community.”
YELL includes nine components, according to Sproule, the most known of which is the YELL youth council. The youth-led council is responsible for the organization and moderation of political all-candidate forums during elections, and the annual Pretty in Pink anti-bullying campaign in February, among other initiatives.
She added YELL youth council members also volunteer, receive civic leadership training certification through a program known as LEAD, practise job interview preparation, develop financial literacy, and other life skills.
“There's a lot more to YELL than the public is often aware of or thinks of,” Sproule said. “Kids can be involved in one of those components, all nine of them, or anything in between. In the end, there are upwards of 500 youth who are touched by at least one component of that program every year.”
Sproule explained that each year, Synergy staff submits applications for funding to run its programs through the Family Community and Support Services (FCSS) program and the United Way of Calgary. She said this past funding cycle, Synergy applied for funding for five programs, and received funding for three of them.
However, she said the City of Chestermere’s Human Services Advisory Committee’s recommendations for which initiatives should receive funds this year did not include YELL or the Child Safe Canada programs. She added City council later approved the committee’s recommendations.
In a statement to the Rocky View Weekly, City of Chestermere officials said that in total, the committee received 17 applications for FCSS funding in Chestermere, with the requests totalling $530,000. The City only had $190,000 allocated to fund the programs.
“There was not enough funding to go around," the statement read. "We are only one funding source for the non-profit sector in Chestermere, but we appreciate all the amazing work they do in our community and wish them all the best in their applications for other funding sources.”
Sproule said there is never enough FCSS funding to support all the local groups that apply for it.
“Additionally, they said they were looking to try and expand and meet different needs in the community,” Sproule said. “We don't know exactly what that means. They're going to be releasing the names of the programs they have chosen to fun later this month [or in early November].”
According to Sproule, in addition to cancelling YELL, the loss of Synergy’s babysitting and home-alone courses will also be felt in the community.
“We always have a waiting list for that program,” she said. “They're very popular programs, kind of like a coming-of-age program for kids in their preteens.”
After the news broke, Sproule said it took some time for Synergy’s members to come to terms with the loss of the two programs.
“Initially, the current YELL participants were, I think, in shock,” she said. “They didn't know how to react. We gave it a week to sink in and then had a further conversation with them and let them talk. When they were ready to talk about it, they were pretty upset.”
One of YELL’s current members is Rushda Phull, a Grade 12 student at Chestermere High School. The 16-year-old said she has been a part of the group for the last few years, and has obtained many important life skills as a result.
“Seeing it go is truly devastating,” Phulls said. “It's such a powerful and educational program. The fact it's being cut, I believe so many youth – including myself – will feel that loss.
“I was able to navigate through my development by being in this program. The fact the City is not able to recognize the cost of their funding decision, it's going to affect me, my other youth members, and also the community that YELL serves.”
With two months to go until the programs are no longer offered, Sproule said Synergy staff will try to “pack as much as possible” before the new year. She added Synergy has applied for FCSS funding from Rocky View County to ensure their current members will be able to receive their LEAD certification before then.
But even though the program will soon be cut, Sproule said YELL members are celebrating the positive impact the program has had on Chestermere and the surrounding area. She added many alumni of the program have been submitting videos about how YELL benefitted their lives, and Synergy has been sharing those testimonials on social media.
“They have their heads screwed on straight, these kids,” she said. “Some of them were initially angry and upset, but once they had some time to let it sink in, their thoughts were more about how they could celebrate this, while also being sad that kids in the future will not be able to take advantage of the leadership training they received.”
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
