The Men of The North youth mentorship program has been doing yard work across the tri-communities. (Men of the North/Facebook)
MEN OF THE NORTH

Mentorship group inches closer to goal for summer challenge

Jul 27, 2022 | 9:00 AM

Anyone who has yard work done in the tri-communities have more than like had it done as part of the 50 Yard Challenge.

The initiative has been a part of Men of The North for the past three summers, where local youth help out in the community and build their skills as part of a mentorship program with the organization.

Christopher Mirasty with Men of The North said they wanted to give the youth an opportunity to engage in something more meaningful and to have purpose in the community.

The initiative has been “helping them to develop their strengths, skills, abilities, and providing opportunities to give back to Elders in the community, families with disabilities and single-parent homes by providing basic yard work, mowing, trimming, raking, cleaning up garbage around the yard. Helping in those ways and building those relations with trust, respect, and integrity,” he said.

The challenge this summer was to complete yard work on 50 yards in La Ronge, Air Ronge and Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

So far, they’ve completed about 38 yards with help from a Saskatoon group called Possibilities Recovery.

“They have already contributed 11 yards towards our project. We have another nine more yards to complete, and our deadline date is Aug. 6.”

(Facebook/Men of the North)

Mirasty said there is a prize for this challenge: a three-day canoe trip from Missinipe to Stanley Mission, all expenses paid.

At the end of the day, Mirasty said it’s not about the prize but about empowering local youth.

“Our youth deserve the utmost, best from each and every one of us because they are going to be our future leaders, they’re going to be our future providers and they’re going to have these opportunities to show great things. If we can provide an opportunity for them to expand their skill sets today, I definitely think we’re going to see a much brighter future.”

derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock

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