The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) and partner United Way Hastings & Prince Edward are pleased to announce the 2024 Rural Ontario Youth Summit will be held on Saturday, September 7th, 2024, in the City of Belleville. The summit will inspire a a movement of young Change Makers to BE the change they want to see in their future, their community and world around them.
During the event, ROI’s Rural Change Makers and youth from Hastings and Prince Edward County will engage with up to 500 youth, between the ages of 15-35, from across Ontario in a diverse and inspiring setting of discovery, learning, sharing and collaboration. The event will take place at Centennial Secondary School, 160 Palmer Road, Belleville from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm and is designed to increase awareness and connect young leaders with local community resources and agencies, fostering youth engagement and civic participation.
“We are thrilled to partner with Rural Ontario Institute to bring the inaugural Rural Youth Summit to Belleville. This event offers an incredible opportunity for young people and our community in general,” says Kaitlyn Lalonde, Director of Community Impact, United Way Hastings & Prince Edward. “When youth are mobilized to meaningfully engage, learn, and be inspired, they bring their passions, knowledge, perspectives and ideas back to the community and we all benefit. I am so excited to participate in this event and be part of the positive impact that it will have.”
“As a proud international student, founder of Belleville International and a 2023 Changemaker at the Rural Ontario Institute, I am thrilled to co-chair the 2024 Rural Ontario Youth Summit in the beautiful Belleville, Bay of Quinte region. This summit represents more than just an event; it’s a testament to the power of youth engagement and community spirit in the entire Quinte region. It wouldn’t be possible without the support I have received from the local community and organizations,” says Hardik Patel, Founder of Belleville International and Co-chair of the Rural Ontario Youth Summit “By bringing together young minds from across rural Ontario, we’re not only fostering connections but also igniting inspiration and awareness that will shape our future. This summit embodies my commitment to giving back to the community that has embraced me, proving that with passion and dedication, we can create meaningful change regardless of our background. Together, we’re not just discussing the future – we’re actively building it, right here in Bay of Quinte.”
“Meeting so many different people at Ignite and experiencing things I have never done before through the Rural Change Maker program has had a really big impact on me. I feel brave and I am no longer afraid of embracing positive change,” says Mahbuba Airin, 2023 Rural Change
Maker and Co-Chair of the Rural Ontario Youth Summit. “It’s an exciting time and the summit will provide youth from across Ontario with the opportunity to catalyze positive change and leadership in their own lives.”
Throughout the day summit attendees will hear from inspirational speakers, indulge in local food and cultural performances, engage in breakout discussions, participate in rural development workshops, discover youth entrepreneurship and network through a youth-led trade show showcasing innovative ideas, projects and resources.
“Rural youth often face unique challenges such as limited access to educational resources, economic opportunities, and community support,” says Ellen Sinclair, Executive Director at ROI. “This year’s youth summit will address these challenges and provide a platform for youth to develop essential skills, explore career opportunities, and build a supportive network.”
“When ROI reached out about holding their Rural Ontario Youth Summit here in Belleville, we knew we had to be a part of it. Part of our mandate is to help drive growth in the region and there’s no better way to do that than fostering leadership within our Bay of Quinte region youth,“ says Dug Stevenson Executive Director of the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board and Rural Ontario Youth Summit sponsor.“And with the United Way HPE as acoordinating partner,we know this Rural Youth Summit in September is going to be something pretty special. To be a sponsor of this event isa really great fit for us and we’re excited to see what the students are going to experience.”
To register for this free event,please visit RuralOntario Institute | Events.To learn more about sponsorship opportunities available for the summit, please visithttps://www.roiconnect.ca/rural-youth-summit/or contactinfo@ruralontarioinstitute.ca.
Support for the Rural Ontario Youth Summit has been generously provided in part by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Ministry of Rural Affairs.
(Submitted to Quinte News)
