FR
May 14th is Children and Youth in Care Day (CYICD), dedicated to recognizing the strength, courage, and resilience of children and youth in and from care in Ontario. The Children and Youth in Care Day Act, which was proclaimed into law in 2014, inspired the experiences and recommendations youth shared in the My Real Life Book report.
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada (CAFC) is again proud to partner with the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), on the #ForgetMeNot campaign, which highlights the experiences of children and youth asking us to be there for them, while calling for the need for more critical supports that help young people find meaningful work, heal from trauma, and secure safe and stable housing.
The Shared Stories Project
This year, a new element was added to the campaign. Produced in collaboration with OACAS, Humber College, Young People’s Theatre (YPT), Urban Market Campaign Inc., and CAFC, the Shared Stories project gave 25 young lived experts the chance to write a play based on their stories. A reading, staged at YPT in Toronto on May 8, the play gave audiences a raw and inspiring look at the child welfare system through the eyes of those living it.
“I love theatre, and after connecting with other young people from care who shared that they wanted to get their story out there, I decided to support them in their reading of a stage play based on their own experiences. These young people want to speak to their own communities – other youth, their peers, organizations that work in the child welfare space. They want to speak to their own story, not just from a place of difficulty and deficit, but also from a place of resilience and perseverance. That’s where the Shared Stories Initiative originated and we hope people realize that the in-care experience is not a monolith.” David Lewis-Peart, Youth Services Analyst, OACAS and former youth in care.
A Change to Learn and Act
Shared Stories took the audience through five acts, and at times, the mood was heavy as it highlighted the complexity and challenges that youth faced in navigating a system that sometimes feels like it’s against them. As avatars for those whose stories were shared, professional actors spoke of despair, loss of community, precariousness, uncertainty, and the inherent contradictions of being a child in care. They also celebrated the little, big wins like graduating from high school, finding a place to live, being sung Happy Birthday, and the mentors, teachers, and foster parents who helped them find their way.
Ezekiel, one of the project’s participants, speaks about the value in honouring every achievement regardless of what it is:
“Little wins are things or little battles that you overcome throughout the years. And it’s those wins and those victories that lead to bigger ones. And it’s all about just taking those into account and focusing on those. Because once you focus on those wins more than how many losses you take, you’ll realize that you’re making progress and growing at the end of the day.”
In addition to the reading, the event included photography, original music performances, poetry, and spoken word. An entirely youth-led undertaking, young people managed registration, greeted guests as ushers, and performed the role of emcees. As one said, “My little win is taking the initiative to be here, even though it would have been a lot easier to just cancel on the day.”
Looking for ways to support children and youth in care? From fostering, to volunteering, to mentoring, there are many ways to be there for children and youth in care. Learn more.
