Blog

Powerful Community Building

May 30, 2019

To mark International Women’s Day, March 8th, SWOVA hosts a celebration dinner to honour the women in our community who are challenging barriers, demonstrating leadership, inspiring others and accomplishing positive change.

International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to differences, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.  It is a day when we celebrate the sisterhood of all women.  It is also an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

Social-Emotional Learning during the Holidays

Social-Emotional Learning during the Holidays

School is almost out, and students will have a well-deserved break from class. However, learning doesn’t have to stop completely as soon as school is out for the year. The holidays are the perfect time to practice kindness and generosity. We've curated five tips to...

Never too Young to Remember December 6

Never too Young to Remember December 6

On December 6th, 1989, the day that fourteen young women at l’École Polytechnique in Montreal were killed by a gunman as a deliberate act of violence against women, Quinn Mulherin (21, she/they*) wasn’t born yet. She learned about the tragedy years later when she...

The Past and the Future of the Core (Inn)

The Past and the Future of the Core (Inn)

Salt Spring Island does not have a lot of facilities to accommodate young people, but we do have The Core (Inn) on McPhilipps Avenue. It is a safe place where island youth can come together to hang out, play music and games, and where snacks and healthy food are...

Book about stereotypes helps kids combat bias

Book about stereotypes helps kids combat bias

Identifying and questioning stereotypes, bias, and prejudice has been part of our educational programs since we started to develop our social-emotional learning framework for kids and youth twenty-five years ago. It turns out that stereotypes start to take form in our...

Five Things I Learned in Pass it On

Five Things I Learned in Pass it On

Olivia Sugden is this year’s recipient of The Circle Education Pass It On Mentorship Award. Olivia has been part of the Pass it On Girls program for the past three years. She was wholeheartedly committed to the program and its participants, and with her warm, open and...

The lessons I Learned from my Mental Health Problems in my Youth

The lessons I Learned from my Mental Health Problems in my Youth

May 7th is National Child & Youth Mental Health Day. Willie MacPherson was impacted by mental health problems throughout his youth. He was addicted to sugar, video games, and drugs, but found healing. He shares the lessons he learned on the way. Talk Talking about...

Olivia Hayne: ‘Young People Often Think They’re Untouchable’

Olivia Hayne: ‘Young People Often Think They’re Untouchable’

Grade 11 students of the Gulf Island Secondary School are attending a P.A.R.T.Y. this week. No, it is not what you think, this is a different party. This party is to Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth. It’s about raising awareness and learning through...

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