royal bank of canada invests in youth arts against violence

 

Brampton – April 21, 2009. Rapport Youth & Family Services is pleased to announce a $10,000 grant from RBC Foundation to develop a three way partnership between RBC, Rapport Youth & Family Services, and renowned Modern Batik artist David Kibuuka.

“Rapport has had a wonderful and successful history in the Peel Region, and Modern Batik Art Workshops is honoured to be aligned with this well respected and successful organization.”, said David Kibuuka. “The workshops will no doubt expose hidden talents in many youth in Peel.”

Mr. Kibuuka, a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, has owned and operated art galleries in Toronto and Los Angeles. His passion is teaching Modern Batik Art Technique to youth in community outreach programs. David’s workshops have been held in Canada, the USA, Africa, Europe, and in several Caribbean countries. Most recently, David has worked with youth in Toronto’s Jamestown and Jane-Finch communities.

“The opportunity to involve an established artist such as David Kibuuka in our program’s activities is very exciting”, said Paul Sherman, Executive Director, Rapport Youth & Family Services, “not only because of his artistic expertise, but perhaps more importantly, because of his enthusiasm and dedication to working with and mentoring youth.”

The Youth Arts Against Violence program, which receives funding support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, is a collaboration of a number of youth serving agencies in Peel, with Rapport as the lead agency. The program provides an opportunity for young people, many of whom are deemed at risk or marginalized, to use the unique and intrinsic qualities of artistic expression as a way to constructively deal with issues of violence in their lives and in the community. This youth engagement initiative features a youth-led network that encourages young persons in Peel Region to use artistic expression as a means of promoting nonviolence.

“The partnership with Rapport Youth & Family Services aligns with RBC's focus of inspiring youth to take positive action. David Kibuuka’s acclaimed teaching approach provides youth an opportunity to express themselves through an artistic medium. Youth Arts Against Violence encourages young people to reach their full potential and enables the development of future leaders in our community.”, said Harriet Thornhill, Regional Vice President, RBC Royal Bank, East Brampton.

The Youth Arts Against Violence project enables youth to become leaders in their communities in initiating cultural and artistic activities related to anti-violence themes, and in doing so, mobilize other youth to unite in becoming proponents of non-violence. Youth involved in this program are involved in such activities as leadership skills development and mentoring training, workshops with community artists in techniques related to a variety of artistic mediums, the production of original artwork, and the staging of an annual youth arts festival that features visual, auditory and performance art.

From Left; Paul Sherman, Executive Director, Rapport Youth & Family Services; David Kibuuka; Harriet Thornhill, Regional Vice-President, Royal Bank of Canada.