YIP Winter Session Completes First Month

The first month of the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) Youth in Policing (YIP) 2024-25 Winter Initiative is complete! With 100 students and 18 youth leaders, this marks the largest YIP afterschool program in the Province!

Established in 2006 in partnership with the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services, YIP is a paid personal, professional, and community development opportunity for Durham youth aged 15-18. YIP is built on the mission to be UNITED:

• Understand and embrace diversity.
• Navigate future goals through personal and professional development.
• Involve themselves as leaders in the community.
• Think globally and reflect on larger perspectives.
• Empower others as ambassadors of change.
• Discover the world of policing beyond the uniform.

During the first five weeks, Students worked Wednesdays and Saturdays to engage in hands-on learning experiences that emphasize the importance of leadership, teamwork, and community engagement. The team will hit the ground running in the new year to continue engaging in exciting program features including:

• Learning opportunities in Leadership, Equity and Inclusion, Public Speaking, First Aid, and Financial Literacy.
• Community events such as the IMPACT Youth Forum, CNOY Fundraiser, Operation GIVE, Basketball Tournament for Special Olympics, and CAN Conference.
• Interactions and presentations with members from across the DRPS, including Command, Guns & Gangs, Internet Child Exploitation, Tactical Support, Homicide, Education and Training, Traffic Services, and more.

We are thrilled to see our students embody these principles and grow into confident leaders who will positively influence their communities. Their commitment, creativity, and passion shown during the first month have already inspired us, and we look forward to witnessing the amazing impact they will make during this program and beyond!

There will also be several opportunities available for members of the public to get involved with, including our community events! Stay connected with us for updates and announcements by following our social media platforms: @drps_yip on Instagram and Twitter, and drps.yip on Facebook. Applications for our Summer YIP Initiative are expected to open this January! For more details about the program and how to get involved, visit our website at www.drps.ca/yip.