Youth Services

Taking an upstream approach to prevent inequality, exclusion, and social and gender-based violence

Our project facilitators work with girls and boys and gender-diverse youth, as well as with intervention workers from the education sector on the following topics: preventing sexual exploitation and gender-based violence; consent; healthy and egalitarian relationships; body image and healthy lifestyle habits; diversification of career choices.

694 youths and intervention workers participated in different programs, workshops and activities offered by Youth Services.

A few words on our year

Continuing with our activities for youth and maintaining ties with schools to foster equality, healthy relationships and fight gender-based stereotypes and violence was a considerable challenge. As a matter of fact, school personnel found themselves having to perpetually adapt to situations arising because of the health crisis, in addition to being constantly overworked. We took the time to take the pulse of the schools to better understand and respond to their needs and those of our youth.

Normally, most of our projects regarding healthy relationships or the diversification of career choices are offered in person. We had to transform our offer and propose ready-to-use tools, putting them directly on line so they could be used independently at any time. Web platforms, videos, educational clips, presentations, webinars, an online resource bank saw the light of day and received excellent feedback.

Since nothing can fully replace in-person interaction, especially with respect to spontaneous conversations, we were fortunately able to continue with certain group activities with youth in schools.

Detailed report of activities (French only)

Issues

Juggling studies, friends, social networks, love life, work, the construction of one’s identity and the definition of one’s future is not easy… Even less so when a pandemic suddenly changes the situation.

Ten times more girls aged 12 to 17 are victims of domestic violence1 than boys of the same age.2

Almost one in four women (22.1%) in Quebec report having experienced at least one incident of sexual assault before the age of 18, mostly between the ages of 12 and 16.3

An overwhelming majority offemale sex workers are recruited as minors, the average age being around 14.7.4 With the pandemic, recruitment – which is generally done in schools (primary to university), youth centers, subway stations and parks5 – has shifted significantly online. As a result, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has seen an 81% increase in the number of reportsof child sexual abuse and exploitation between April and June. In the words of the Centre’s director, “it’s a new epidemic, online”.6

Career choices made by girls and boys reflect traditional gender-based biases with respect to job sectors. In 2017-2018: only 21% of engineering students were women, whereas more than 76% of female students in college diploma programs were enrolled in social services, health and administration studies.8 The situation is the same for professional vocational education, where 70% of girls are enrolled in two fields of studies, namely administration and health.9

35% of students had their work placement postponed or cancelled. 47.3% of youth who were employed part-time lost their jobs. Young people are hardest hit because, among other things, their type of employment does not offer the possibility of telecommuting.10

Nearly two-thirds of Canadians aged 15 to 24 report that their mental health has deteriorated since the beginning of the pandemic, the highest rate among all age groups surveyed by Statistics Canada. In this regard, since March 13, 2020, Tel-jeunes reports a 30% increase in contact with youth in distress.11

Our Programs

Whether it’s to think about choosing a career, analyze friendships or intimate relationships, put in place and identify personal limits and those of others, identify risky situations or recognize gender-based stereotypes and inequalities, the objective of all projects run by Youth Services is to develop critical thinking from the standpoint of equality, inclusion and non-violence with respect to gender.

79 youth and adults

GENDER EQUALITY, LEADERSHIP AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

In its last year, participants of the Strong Girls, Strong World project organized three public workshops on feminist, inclusive and non-oppressive approaches. Young participants of Pub woke participated in thought-provoking workshops on gender-based stereotypes in advertising, enabling them to approach advertising agents and make them aware of these stereotypes and the impact they can have in building a more egalitarian and inclusive society. e société plus égalitaire et inclusive.

43 youth and partners from the education sector

Healthy lifestyles habits and relational well-being

Workshops in schools to learn more about consent and healthy relationships, both in person and online.

572 youth and intervention workers

DIVERSIFICATION OF CAREER CHOICES

The diversification of career choices and deconstructing gender stereotypes are at the heart of our projects aligned with Academic and Career Guidance Content (ACGC), through programs such as Un métier à mon image, Carrière de choix or Women Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow.

Contribute to a brighter future for girls
Play Video

English subtitles available  

Play Video
Collaborating to give youth diverse career choices
Bianca Séguin-Lefebvre
Play Video about Bianca Séguin-Lefebvre
English subtitles available
What is the Pub Woke project about?
Jiayin raconte son parcours dans le projet Pub Woke
Play Video about Jiayin raconte son parcours dans le projet Pub Woke
English subtitles available 

La réponse en vidéo (02:18)
Sous-titres disponibles 

Results

80 professionals interested in the diversification of career choices downloaded the activity toolkit from the UMAMI platform.

More than 85% of youth who participated in UMAMI workshops are able to identify gender-based stereotypes associated with career choices.

87% of participants in the Women Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow program feel confident in their ability to meet challenges, and 77% feel better equipped to become entrepreneurs.

Articles on advertising stereotypes generated more than 1,300 views on Grenier, a site specializing in advertising and marketing.

Who are the participants?

Age

10 to 21
years old

Gender

Girls

52%

Boys

44%

Gender Diversity

4%

1 Violence conjugale : Infractions contre la personne commises par une personne conjointe, ex-conjointe, amie intime ou ex-amie intime de la victime. Définition du ministère de la Sécurité publique du Québec.

2 Conseil du statut de la femme, Portrait statistique Égalité femmes hommes, région de Montréal, 2015, p. 69.

3 INSPQ,  Statistiques – Ampleur jeunes

4 Concertation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle, Connaitre les besoins des femmes dans l’industrie du sexe pour mieux baliser les services, 2016, pp. 38 et 57.

5 Concertation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle, Portrait de l’industrie du sexe au Québec, p. 45-46; Conseil du statut de la femme, La prostitution, il est temps d’agir (Avis), 2012, p. 46.

6 Tel que rapporté sur ICI Radio-Canada

7 Réseau des Chaires pour les femmes en sciences et en génie au Canada

8 CAPRES, Portrait des Québécoises en enseignement supérieur

9 Conséquences des stéréotypes sur le développement

10 Statistiques Canada tel que rapporté sur ICI Radio-Canada

11 Tel que rapporté sur ICI Radio-Canada