This post was originally published in June, 2014

Youth Program Participant Eager for another Exciting Week at the Co-operative Youth Leadership Program

Like most youth who have never attended the Co-operative Youth Leadership Program, the bus ride out to the Goldeye Centre is often met with some trepidation. New people, new experiences, and a week away from home. However, as most can attest the feeling does not last too long. For Rheanne Cooke, age 13, participating in the co-operative youth leadership program last year for the first time, those feelings quickly subsided.

“I was really nervous at first, what people would think of me-but by the end of the day everyone was so welcoming, and if you did have trouble, everyone would help you out, everyone is so nice.”

Last year’s youth program came at the end of a very difficult year for Rheanne. Having been diagnosed with bone cancer in 2012, Rheanne required both chemotherapy and a below the knee amputation of one of her legs. 'However, just over 4 months later, finding her balance on a new prosthetic and her hair starting to grow back from the treatment, Rheanne set off on the bus ready for a new adventure. “It was hard to let her go, but I knew she was in good hands” her mother, Shantel Cooke, said. “I thought that the leadership component, especially, after everything she had been through would be an excellent fit,” she added.

When asked about some of her favourite memories at the program, Rheanne had a long list including the songs at lunch for those who forget to take their hats off, or have their elbows on the table, not to mention lots of time to meet and get to know other kids from across the province.

One of the key elements of the youth program for both Rheanne and Shantel was the leadership and team-building aspects, as well as several opportunities to apply these real-world skills. This included running a co-operative store (“which was pretty cool”*), as well as voting on key decisions: “we were given choices on activities and scheduling, and we got to choose ourselves what we wanted to do,” Rheanne recounts. Shantel adds that what sets this program apart, is the focus on leadership as well as “learning how to work together to do something useful”.

From this experience, Rheanne describes that one of her main takeaways was in learning how to participate and contribute within the group “to stand up and speak for yourself, as well as respect one another”.  When asked whether her daughter was excited to return this year, Shantel said “She started talking about going back in February already”.

 To learn more about the Co-operative Youth Leadership Program please visit www.acca.coop/youth

*You read it here first, and from a real Alberta teenager, starting a co-operative is cool.