CALEB NICKERSON
Shawville Jan. 24, 2020
On Friday evening, the Maison des Jeunes du Pontiac (MDJ) held a press conference in Shawville to announce . . .
$15,000 in funding for several youth-led community projects that will be taking place this year.
The grant comes as part of the RBC Future Launch Community Program, which is administered by the Royal Bank’s charitable arm as well as Philanthropie Outaouais.
Five youth from several communities in the Pontiac presented their ideas to the assembled representatives and dignitaries. MDJ animator Desiree Tremblay explained that each activity would have an adult coordinator to supervise and give advice, but the projects would be created by and for young people.
“It’s the youth that have taken initiative and who are doing their own projects,” she said. “They are each having a different experience and learning adventure.”
Brooke Black began with an overview of her art therapy class that she plans to teach, which will take place on Thursdays from five to seven. Connor Dubeau and Tyler Lance spoke about the board game night they plan to host at St. Marie School in Otter Lake on Friday nights, starting on Feb. 7. Nathan Kluke presented his plan to offer three meals to needy people in the region, with the help of Bouffe Pontiac. He also had plans for a story time for young children at the local library. Closing out the presentations, Thomas Desabrais spoke about his anti-drug sessions that he plans to present to younger grades, as well as students that come to the Pontiac MDJ.
Philanthropie Outaouais representative Marie-Eve Bertrand told the young animators in training that their projects were inspiring and she hoped to see them flourish.
“I was telling [MDJ Director] Stephane [Durocher], when we heard about this grant with the RBC Foundation, it was the middle of floods and we thought, ‘Can we do this?’” she said. “Our lives were busy and we were helping people out but then we thought, ‘We need to do this because there will be youth in our community who will benefit from this.’ It’s really exciting and touching and emotional actually to see you and how this will impact your community. We want to tell you guys that we believe in you, and I can’t wait to come back in a few months and hear from you.”
RBC Foundation representative Pierre Fortiane added that this was one of the most important ways his organization gives back to the community.
“We believe that if the youth succeed, we all succeed in the end,” he said.
