How the Village des Sources came to be in Rimouski   Nowadays, youth live a fast-paced lifestyle; they study, work, achieve things... Their lifestyle is governed by computers, television, video games, music. The life they live resembles the video clips they’re exposed to: it’s intense, rapid, often superficial, quickly absorbed. These youth have leisure activities, outings, meetings, events. But one thing they don’t have is time. They don’t have time to think, stop, socialize, share, develop strong relationships... No time... or no place? Both, perhaps. At the Centre Goéland, the Village des Sources l’Étoile Filante can be a haven for youth.

Village des Sources l’Étoile Filante Basic principles : Welcoming people Sharing – listening to the hearts of youth Commitment to becoming better people

Values of the Village des Sources l’Étoile Filante Human respect and dignity Human respect and dignity Unconditional acceptance of differences Unconditional acceptance of differences Ability to grow at one’s own pace Ability to grow at one’s own pace Compassion for others Compassion for others Improved self-esteem Improved self-esteem

Values of the Village des Sources l’Étoile Filante … Forgiveness – liberation of self and others Forgiveness – liberation of self and others Authenticity – being OK in the present Authenticity – being OK in the present Christian values and spiritual dimension Christian values and spiritual dimension Protection of and respect for nature Protection of and respect for nature Coming to the realization that the heart is the gateway to the discovery of self and others Coming to the realization that the heart is the gateway to the discovery of self and others

How the camp works  First night – Welcome, ice breaker games, socialization, familiarization with location  Full day – Games, dancing, nature walk, how I feel, silence, special night, etc.  Last morning – Cleaning party, group photos, 2 nd silence, our dreams, evaluation, return to school

Confidentiality  We must not reveal the games, the silence and the messages disclosed by others participating in the camp.  We encourage youth to talk to their parents about what they experienced at the Village des Sources l’Étoile Filante in order to encourage them to continue growing in their pedagogy of the heart.

FOLLOW-UP visit  School visit by the facilitators of the Village des Sources l’Étoile Filante a few weeks after the event.  Reflections on what they learned about the camp while they were at the Centre Goéland.

Youth testimonials…. I understood that things will change in class, but that it will take time. It opened my eyes!

Mental health refers to a person’s ability to self-evaluate. In order to self-evaluate, a person must be able to reflect before making personal decisions, planning for these decisions and then taking action, so as to contribute to his or her emotional, social and physical development. I found a great deal of self- confidence and trust in others. It’s a new beginning. The Village des Sources is something I want to do for the rest of my life!

Being responsible and in control: feeling in control of one’s life. I am going to forgive 539 times with kindness, kindness, kindness. I will love people as they are, and not resort to bullying.

I am going home with a new silence in me

The mental health and wellness recipe is unique for everyone. I learned that even though some people annoy us, we must still include them. Otherwise, it can lead to violence. The seeds that we plant in the garden of our heart are the seeds that we will harvest.

Satisfying our three mental health needs – being able to make choices, feeling included and supported, and recognizing our strengths – allows us to make healthy lifestyle choices. Satisfying our three mental health needs – being able to make choices, feeling included and supported, and recognizing our strengths – allows us to make healthy lifestyle choices. I am going home with a heart full of joy! I learned that we must respect and trust others, and have trust in ourselves.

. I am going home to try and have a fresh start. I have experienced something unforgettable and inexplicable. I have a renewed faith, and in my heart there is joy and peace. I now have a better connection with others in my class. Re-establishing one’s identity while maintaining a core positive sense of self.

Finding and preserving hope: believing in yourself, feeling like you can accomplish things, being optimistic about the future. I really liked how you listened to what we had to say. You made time to be with us. I am going home with a smile on my face and a desire to be nice to everyone.

Our dreams and projections into the future for the Village des Sources l’Étoile Filante   Offer camps in all Acadian regions of Prince Edward Island.   Offer camps to all students from kindergarten to Grade 12.   Have a person responsible for camp coordination (possibly a secondment from the FLSB)   Rally various organizations or affiliations in order to fund camps (ex. FLSB, Health Services Network, Richelieu Clubs, Centre d’éducation chrétienne, diocese, Credit Union, parents committee, etc.)   Create Village des Sources l’Étoile Filante teams in all Acadian regions of Prince Edward Island.