By Nahiah Ayed
Canadian press

150 youth from across Canada Trade vacations for policies

Ottawa - It's really easy to see why at 16, Tom Cowan is already a fine policy maker.

He's passionate and articulate in explaining his purpose. He invokes images that everyone can easily relate to. He wears a little Canadian flag on his hat, dons a courteous smile and an expression that exudes confidence that what he has to say really matters.

Cowan is one of about 150 bright teenagers from across the country who gave up a week of the precious little summer they have left to talk policy -on how to end child poverty.

The topic doesn't make for light conversation, but the teenagers came to Ottawa this week to devise realistic policies and action that might make a dent in the problem in their own communities.

Cowan stood in front of the others many times this week to sell his ideas on how that could be done.

"We have to get our message across, get people to understand that 30 million people doing a little bit would make an enormous difference. Many hands make light work, it's ever so true, " said the full -bearded Cowan, of Bala.

Give "just a little bit"

" If everyone would contribute just a little bit…we could take " child poverty" out of our vocabulary."

By yesterday, the temporary think -tank organized by The Students Commission, a national youth organization churned out more than 20 recommendations aimed at Governments and Society at large.

They also came up with as many action plans that will be undertaken by these youths back home.

The youths rolled up their findings into a report and presented it yesterday to House of Commons Speaker Gilbert Parents as food for thought for a Parliament that voted unanimously in 1989 to end child poverty by the year 2000.

Parent thanked the youths, promising to share the report with parliamentarians.

He said the youths' voice was one "which we must hear a voice we must listen to. The idealism, the hopes, yes, the dreams that you have for your fellow Canadians are to be saluted "

In the report, The youths suggest governments implement a national awareness program on physical and emotional poverty, support community -based social programs and provide education for young children countrywide.

They also recognized their own responsibility by putting the onus on themselves to initiate volunteer programs to provide underprivileged children with everything from food and clothing to recreational activities and exposure to technology and literacy.

"We wanted not just to focus on what is it that governments or business or everybody else can do for young people," said Denise Campbell, youth spokesperson for The Students Commission.

"It's also up to us to be active participants in our own lives and to determine the quality of life that we'll have".

The Students Commission has held similar conferences annually since it was founded in 1991. The Commission maintains year-round contact with delegates to keep tabs on progress.