Youth play an integral part in OJEN’s work, from participating in our programs, to helping design and deliver them - and so much more. We value the expertise youth provide in all areas of our organization. Read about some of the incredible youth we’ve met through their involvement in our justice education initiatives, province-wide.
Liliya Baranova fell in love with law in her grade 11 law class and it continued to be her passion throughout her undergraduate years. In a few short months, she will complete her degree and graduate from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law.
Over the summer, Emmanual had the chance to intern at the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN) through the Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS) program. The LAWS program helped hom feel confident in applying for this placement, allowing him to connect directly with the legal community and learn more about the justice system.
Bella Morina has been on both sides of OJEN’s programming. As a single mother of two and full-time student in the Community and Justice Worker program at Humber College, she first encountered OJEN 7 years ago as a participant in our Family Law for Young Parents (FLYP) program. As an OJEN Project Intern, she facilitated the same program for pregnant young women and new mothers at Jessie’s Centre, a pre and post-natal residential facility in Toronto.
“Empowering youth with legal education supports is like giving them a key to unlock their potential and navigate the harsh complexities of the justice/legal system. It’s not [just] about understanding rights and legal policies but about fostering empowerment, resilience, and hope for a brighter and more successful future.”
Ashanti Campbell, Local Youth Project Officer
“It’s important for youth to be given a voice and explore concepts often avoided in schools. This dialogue is necessary in our community.”
Andre Mandela Lopez, Youth Leadership Team member
“The program gave me an opportunity to learn about my rights, think about the way I communicate and advocate for myself and others.”
Youth participant, Youth-Police Dialogues
“When I attended these workshops, it was in the early stages of my family court process and so it was nice to get a breakdown of what was about to happen in the process, how to access specific services and even just understanding the definition of specific terms.”
Youth participant, Family Law for Young Parents
