Ruckus 2000

By Mandy Cough and Leslie Dungog

The Ruckus 2000 workshop kicked off Toronto's annual youth week on Monday May 8th 2000 at Metro Hall. Over 100 youth from across the Greater Toronto Area gathered to celebrate this event and the accomplishments of other youth worldwide. Guest speakers educated participants on topics such as sweatshops, youth and governance, media awareness, anti oppression, and, drugs and drug use. The students expressed their opinion on these issues by illustrating giant puzzle pieces that will be photographed and published later this year. Other events to celebrate youth week are:

- AIESEC Leadership Conference External Day
- Youth Action Network Open House
- "Corporations Suck: Discuss" A public speak-out on corporatization and its effects
- Metro Network for Social Justice Youth Activist Fair: how to make a change in your world!
- "Sounds of Fusion" closing event featuring Battle of the Bands, DJ spin-off, breakers, hip-hop dancers, contests, sports, art and much more.

Students across the GTA gathered at Metro Hall, Toronto on Monday May 8, 2000. After the various workshops The Students Commission had the opportunity to set up a booth along with other youth organizations. Lorena, Veronica, Leslie, Mandy and Fernando represented The Students Commission and The Tiny Giant Magazine. Between the workshops students were given the chance to visit every booth and ask questions. It allowed the organizations to be recognized and made students realize they are not alone. Youth organizations present were:

The Teen Sex Infoline (www.ppt.on.ca)
Students are given the chance to ask questions about sex, sexually transmitted diseases transmitted diseases, where and how to get a pregnancy test, etc on this infoline.

Education Now: Break the Cycle of Poverty-OXFAM (www.oxfam.ca)
This non-profit organization deals with world literacy for youth.

Jessie's Center for Teens
Teens volunteer to help take care of young children. This bridging program helps youth to develop themselves through helping others.

Center for Addiction & Mental Health
Students are educated about the various drugs that can adversely affect their health.

Youth Assisting Youth (www.yay.org)
Involves youth volunteers who give a helping hand to other youth.

Lesbian? Gay? Bisexual? &endash; You are not Alone ( www.icomm.ca/lgbline)
Peer support line, for twenty-six years or younger. Youth support line for youth, who have questions about their sexuality or just needs advice.

Canada World Youth
Cultural youth exchange program, for seventeen to twenty-year olds offered over 40 countries. This seven month program allows student volunteers from different countries to spend three months in one country and three months in another, where they will be put in a community and volunteer their time to help the community.

This workshop gave participants a chance to put their ambitions into perspective and discuss world issues with guest speakers and other students. Also, we were able to develop contacts, which in turn will open doors for us in the future. Speaking your mind to the professionals encouraged self-expression and relaying the information gathered from the different speakers on to the giant puzzle pieces. Overall it was beneficial to everyone that attended because it gave us all an ides of what we have to work towards.