Local youth form part of Canadian study project
Local youth are happy to be part of the Youth in Stressed Environments
SECUNDA – Local youth were recognised and awarded for taking part in the Resilient Youth in Stressed Environments (RYSE) research program.
The award ceremony was recently held at Graceland Hotel, Casino and Country Club and about seven local youth were praised for their dedication and for taking part in the project.
RYSE is a five-year multinational research project that will explore patterns of resilience among young people in changing environments.
It is in its third year and so far about 600 young people have participated.
The research includes communities involved in oil and gas production and communities impacted by climate change.
This project is focused on Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada and Secunda.
Dr. Michael Ungar, Resilience Research Centre, Dalhousie University in Canada, said the goal is to understand how young people adapt and thrive in stressed environments, with a special focus on youth and their families living in communities experiencing change resulting from boom-bust cycles in the oil and gas industry and youth in communities navigating rapidly changing environments as a result of climate change.
He is working with a South African team led by Dr. Linda Theron from the University of Pretoria.
He said they have been working with partners from the oil and gas industry, government, school boards and key organisations within each of the communities to better understand how to support the health and well-being of young people in changing environments.
“We are happy with the level of dedication we got from the South African and today is about celebrating the beautiful things we have learned as we continue to try find solutions to the challenges.”
