The CNIB National Youth Council (NYC) provides council members with the opportunity to influence change and increase awareness of issues facing young Canadians living with sight loss. From supporting local programs to executing large scale national campaigns focused on supporting youth with sight loss, the National Youth Council has done it all.
In honour of National Volunteer Week, we spoke to two members of the council about their experience volunteering with the National Youth Council.
Meet Abby (They/Them)
National Youth Council Abby Sienko is a passionate advocate for change. They currently hold their Bachelor of Art degree in Child and Youth Care at Douglas College, and through their work as a volunteer with the National Youth Council, Abby hopes to motivate and empower youth who are blind, partially sighted or Deafblind to reach of their dreams and live the lives they choose.
“I've always been an advocate for supporting and working alongside children and youth, especially those who have faced significant adversity. And being a person who is Deafblind, I found CNIB, and I realized that National Youth Council was a perfect fit for me to explore that work,” says Abby.
“It’s really important that we continue to give youth a platform to share their ideas, and I think that’s the best part of National Youth Council,” they continue. “We all bring a wide variety of expertise and perspectives, but we come together to work towards a common goal.”
Through their work as a volunteer the National Youth Council, Abby hopes to continue to work alongside their peers to develop advocacy resources, and use their education and expertise to empower, and motivate and educate the community at large.
“I've always had a desire to give back, and I want people to know just how capable youth with disabilities are,” says Abby.
But above all, Abby feels most excited about being a part of a team of like-minded individuals, knowing that together they can accomplish so much more.
“It's incredible to see the things that we do on our own, but together as well. It makes me more motivated and excited to be in this field and proud to be a volunteer,” they explain. “I feel a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. It’s a great feeling.”
Meet Danica
Long time National Youth Council (NYC) member Danica Frappier has been a part of the NYC since 2019, and since then, she’s made a huge impact through her work as a volunteer.
“We [noticed that] there [was] a gap in terms of financial literacy for youth with sight loss, and so we worked to develop a presentation series on financial literacy,” says Danica.
Together with her colleague, Caleb Piché-Laroccque, they launched the financial literacy series, “Let’s Talk Money”, covering everything from banking basics to the registered disability savings plan (RDSP), and first-time home buying.
“What was really exciting was through that series, we were able to foster a partnership between CNIB and the Wealthsimple Foundation,” she adds. “Now, that partnership has led to more opportunities, and it’s continuing to grow. It was really rewarding to know that the work we did had a real and positive impact for the community.”
Along with finding opportunities to give back to her community, Danica sees the work she does with the National Youth Council as a way to feel more connected – especially with her peers with sight loss.
“What pushed me to looking at opportunities to volunteer with CNIB was my need for connection,” she explains. “I didn't really know people around my age who had sight loss.”
“But it’s not just the connections. It’s the fact that we're able to influence something that's bigger than us. I didn't realize that I could do something that would cause change throughout the country.”
Did you know?
Each year, the National Youth Council seeks diverse youth representation from across Canada, with the next application process being launched in the fall 2023.
For more information, visit the National Youth Council page updates or send an email to nationalyouthcouncil@cnib.ca.