Program Overview: 

Youth and Elders Together (YET) is a program focused on connecting Youth and Elders to foster intergenerational connections, shared skill-building, and aimed at reducing social isolation for residents in the rural community of Shelburne. 

Social inequities are a real issue among the African Nova Scotian rural communities. Without connection to others, it can cause severe mental and well-being challenges, such as anxiety and depression. With loss and grief, our community has lost extensive loved ones over the years, we believe the impacts of environmental racism permeate our community deeply through the loss of community members. 

Elder’s stories, experiences, and wisdom are not easily shared, especially when we lack facilities and spaces to do so. This project will promote healthier lifestyles for both generations while fostering mutual benefits. Youth will have the chance to hear from community elders, their lived experiences and stories that shaped their lives. 

Youth will be paired with an Elder for a series of hours over the Summer/ Fall (July-October) to complete mentoring hours. This time will be used to connect with each other and learn and develop new skills such as knitting, painting, technology literacy, storytelling, physical activity, or cooking, to name a few. Our participants will then come together to celebrate these new community connections.