Established in 1991, The Students Commission is a non-profit organization that brings together 200 youth, from across Canada, to discuss issues and write a National Report at an annual conference in the Ottawa region.
In just under eight years, The Students Commission has created a positive proactive forum for young people to direct and influence public policy and a program to assist them to take action on issues themselves. They have presented their National Reports to the Prime Minister, the Governor-General, Cabinet Ministers, Provincial Premiers and leaders of business, education, community and labour.

The Students Commission provides a national policy forum and leadership training venue for all Canadian students. It is not a "leadership" program for elite students, but actively recruits among those youth not usually chosen for national conferences. The Commission starts from the premise that every student has ideas that can make a difference if they are given the framework and the tools.

At the conference, considerable effort is spent on helping youth to practice the communication process: learning to listen and learning to understand another point of view. More time and effort is also spent by the youth delegates, recognizing the reality of language barriers and developing creative hands-on solutions to overcome them. Media training, report preparation and cultural workshops run by youth for youth are part of the conference, which is organized and executed by returning youth delegates from previous years.

THE IMPACT:

These high school students have published seven major National Youth Reports, published an anti-racism guide, implemented hundreds of in-school programs, workshops, and youth training initiatives, and reached more than 14.4 million people through their media and presentation campaigns.
Student Commissioners have won recognition awards in almost every province for their efforts, including a YTV Public Service Award, three Lincoln Alexander Anti-racism Awards, a Canadian Human Rights Achievement Award and numerous provincial citizenship and youth of the year awards.

THE YEAR-LONG PROGRAM:

After the national conference, the youth delegates return to their communities to share what they learned, consult with other youth and mobilize other youth in executing their ideas. The delegates work all year long in their communities and schools, implementing personal action plans and advising The Students Commission's Planning Committee. The delegates also participate in various projects of the Commission, such as developing "Nobody's Born a Racist," a Guide to Equity, and consulting for our report on social reforms, "Your Future, Your Decision&emdash;Youth Speak out on Social Reforms."

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT:

With TG Magazine Publishing Institute, youth learn communications technology skills, internet, video conferencing techniques, publishing, marketing and other transferable skills relevant to all areas of their lives.

THE ADMINISTRATION:

The Students Commission has been developed by a National Planning Committee comprising senior Student Commissioners, Optimist Club members, TG Magazine staff and volunteer educators.

THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE:

Student Commissioners have helped establish Canada Youth-speak International to give youth in Canada a chance to influence United Nations and international policy. Two Students Commissioners attended the World Summit on Social Development in March 1995, and three Student Commissioners the UN 50 conference, in Toronto. A team covered the G-7 Summit from a youth perspective with Auburn Air Student Media Services. Another commissioner ran a workshop at the Global Youth Forum in San Francisco. Two more Commissioners, accredited for the Women's World Summit in Beijing, created "Challenge the Assumptions," an international multimedia educational package on gender issues.

tgmag@tgmag.ca