youthinkit

YouthInk Publications Society is non-profit charitable organization that is dedicated to promoting literacy in youth through journalism, communication, publishing and special projects. The organization currently publishes two magazines: YouthInkIt magazine, a biannual publication directed towards upper elementary kids, and Face It magazine: a newly launched magazine aimed at teenagers.

These youth newspapers are distributed at all libraries, recreation centers, many bookstores, museums, theatres coffee shops, and more than 200 elementary and junior high schools. 10,000 copies are published twice a year and have a readership of more than 20,000 youth, parents, teachers and community members. All editorial content is by youth for youth, making YouthInkIT a one-of-a-kind magazine.

There are many ways that youth can get their writing into the magazine. Program workshops operate in schools while YouthInk’s youth clubs and special projects reach youth throughout Calgary. Story submissions to YouthInkIT Magazine are accepted from Alberta and across Canada.

However, one of the easiest ways to get involved is by signing up to be a volunteer with Child and Youth Friendly Calgary. The Youth Volunteer Corps program has been involved with this project for many years, it has become one of the “classic” YVC projects. Every summer, half a dozen Youth Volunteer Corps members spend a week immersed in a journalism workshop where they learn interviewing skills, journalistic writing styles and graphic design. At the end of the week, they will have completed two or more articles to be either published in the newspaper or the YouthInkIt website. The program itself allows youth to be independent, self directed and free thinking. After learning the essential skills of journalism, volunteers are on their own to do their interviews, articles, photography and illustrations with support and help from staff when they need it.

For many volunteers, YouthInkIt is often the first YVC project they do, it’s a great project for new members, and generally most who begin with this project stay on with YVC. Youth volunteers leave with new skills and a sense of accomplishment, knowing their work will be viewed thousands of readers throughout Calgary.

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