Want to run your own youth dialogue session?
This great resource provides the information needed to run your own dialogue with youth from your community or organization. This resource can be used by youth and adult allies alike (i.e. teachers, counsellors, youth leaders, coaches, those involved with youth organizations …).
Feel free to use as little or as much of this resource as you like. You can do one or two activities, pick and choose which topics interest you the most, or you can run a full-day (6 hours) workshop! For example, If you have 6 hours, you can use the Policy Literacy Workshop and the Dialogue Questions with activities (A + B). If you have less time, you could complete some of the activities, or just answer the Dialogue Questions (C).
Download the whole Workshop in a Box, and Participant Workbook (you need one for each youth participant).
Or, pick and choose from the resources below:
- Download the Policy Literacy Toolkit and Policy Literacy PowerPoint Presentation
- Download the Dialogue Questions
- Download the Dialogue Questions (Without Activities)
- Download the Participant Workbook
Submitting Responses
Any written results and completed Participants Workbooks that are collected as part of the Workshop in a Box can be submitted:
1. By mail to:
Attn: Laura Flynn-Northcote
Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Strategic Planning and Analysis Branch,
4th Floor, 101 Bloor St W
Toronto ON M5S 2Z7
2. By email to: youthdevelopment@ontario.ca
3. Online by completing the Confidential Survey (just indicate that you’re responding on behalf of a group!)
Please submit all materials by Monday June 13, 2011.
Tips for Facilitators
A facilitator’s job has three parts: lead the workshops, guide the reflection, and be enthusiastic.
Enthusiasm is contagious! Remember that as a young person, a student, a community member or an adult ally, you have knowledge and experience that you can and should share. Also, remember that the mood of the facilitator will set the tone for the entire workshop. So strive to be positive and have fun with these workshops!
There are a few important considerations that facilitators should keep in mind during youth workshop activities.
- Set aside your needs in favour of the needs of the group.
- Establish a friendly atmosphere and open sharing of ideas.
- Encourage participants to take risks. When in doubt, check with the group. It’s not your responsibility to know everything.
- Respect is critical.
- Address conflict and do not try to avoid it. Create an atmosphere of trust so that disagreements can be brought into the open.
- Create an agreed upon set of rules or guidelines to be followed during the workshop.
- Challenge by choice. If someone wants to sit out, that’s cool.
- Respect the opinions of others.
- HAVE FUN!