聽is a聽PhD student in Dal's School of Health and聽聽is a聽Professor of Health Promotion and Scientific Director of the Healthy Populations Institute at聽.
Youth and young adults hold unique, creative and diverse perspectives and approaches compared to their adult counterparts. Think about the advocacy of and around climate change and climate justice or advocacy for all children鈥檚 rights to receive an education.
While these advocates have challenged the marginalization of children鈥檚 and young people鈥檚 voices in the context of countries鈥� governance typically structured around adult participation, countries around the globe have ratified the and many organizations work to amplify youth voices.
Our work with the in Nova Scotia, Canada, is aimed at supporting the health and learning of school-aged children and youth by empowering them to take the lead in making their school communities more supportive, healthy, sustainable and safe.
We share this work as part of observing on Aug. 12, a day to celebrate, acknowledge and recognize the rights of young people to drive social change for themselves, their communities and the world. We also share it to support youth engagement in social change and healthier school communities year round.
Health Promoting Schools
The UpLift Partnership is rooted in a global movement and model of , first championed by and driven by the insight that 鈥渉ealth is created and lived by people within the settings of their everyday life.鈥�
Involving youth in promoting health in schools can catalyze 鈥� what researchers call their 鈥渁ction competence.鈥�
This includes building knowledge, motivation and competencies that align with this year鈥檚 .
Building 鈥榞reen skills鈥�
The Uplift Partnership brings together different stakeholders such as school communities, government partners and not-for-profit organizations and is hosted at .
The partnership between these diverse parties is grounded in designed to enhance youth engagement within the Health Promoting Schools model.
Over the past four years, youth have led projects through the support of UpLift student action grants. Building green skills helps them to understand the between health, well-being and nature.
Tranquility Garden
In fall 2020, in the COVID-19 pandemic, a student group in Northport, N.S., created an outdoor space for their school community. Prior to this, the school did not have a physical outdoor seating area or place for the students and staf