My name is Lynn Dickson. As one of ten Youth Ambassadors for the Youth Mine Action Ambassador Program (YMAAP), I am working to raise public awareness around the landmines issue in Alberta.
In my job as a Youth Ambassador, I have had the opportunity to meet with many young people who are genuinely concerned about the devastating impact of anti-personnel landmines. I am consistently amazed and inspired by the leadership and enthusiasm demonstrated by youth on the landmines issue.
Recently I attended a landmine awareness day at Bishop Carroll Senior High School in Calgary in celebration of the 5th anniversary of the Ottawa Convention banning landmines. Under the leadership of student Sheena Taylor, students did a phenomenal job organizing and promoting the event.
Students created and hung Youth Against War banners and landmine awareness posters throughout the entire school. They also staffed a booth to collect signatures for the Youth Against War campaign. At noon, nearly two hundred students participated in a pizza lunch, raising funds to sponsor a mine
detection dog in the Balkans. Later I escorted Cambodian campaigners Song Kosal, Sok Eng and Tun Channareth to the school's packed theatre to speak to students and faculty on the landmines issue. Students responded with overwhelming support, presenting Song Kosal with the signatures, promising
to join her "to work for peace in our world".
By the end of the day, Bishop Carroll students had raised awareness around the landmines issue throughout the entire school, collected several hundred signatures for the Youth Against War campaign, and raised hundreds of dollars for mine action. I would like to encourage Bishop Carroll students
and other young people to continue to work towards creating a mine free world. Your efforts to raise awareness and funds, regardless of how old you are, can have a remarkable impact! I look forward to hearing about your initiatives on the website.
Best wishes,
Lynn Dickson
Youth Mine Action Ambassador
Canadian Red Cross, Calgary
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