Bethany Klein at the International Youth Day festivities in Medicine Hat on Aug. 12. (Photo Courtesy of Bob Schneider)

By Chris Brown

Taking action, speaking up

‘Your voice matters’: Hatters mark International Youth Day

Aug 12, 2020 | 5:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Area youth gathered in Kin Coulee Park today to mark 2020’s International Youth Day, the theme for which is Youth Engagement for Global Action.

Two youth speakers addressed the crowd to kick off the event and stressed the importance of taking action and speaking up.

Bethany Klein and Alaa Al Krad encourage young people to use their voice and are proud to be leaders.

“Your voice matters. Your voice has power,” says Klein, who is involved with Medicine Hat’s Be YOUth Centre. “We have seen this in multiple instances around the world. And change can start with just one person.”

She pointed to the Black Lives Matter and Fridays for Future movements as examples of what can happen when young people use their voices.

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Al Krad, from Saamis Immigration, is focused on bringing awareness to bullying and racism. He says he’s experienced it personally and wants to help others who go through it.

“Most of the people these days are so shy and they don’t stand up for themselves so there’s got to be someone that steps up and I try to be that guy always,” he said, adding he wants help kids today and in the future.

“If you don’t get bullying in your lifetime, maybe your kids will, maybe your grandkids will. So if you start getting people to try to fight this bullying and racism, you’ll prevent that from getting to your kids, grandkids, future generations.”

Youth also collected donations for the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank throughout the day.

A mini carnival and speakers were the main attractions and representatives from Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society, the City of Medicine Hat, McMan Youth Hub, Bridges Family Program, Miywasin Centre and Redcliff Youth Centre were also on hand.