Exploring Youth Experiences (EYE) video productions, which provides participants with the skills, resources and infrastructure to produce high-quality videos and films reflecting their diverse experiences in the community. To date, the films and videos produced by EYE tackle issues like substance abuse, teen sexuality, advertising, graffiti, violence and other social issues affecting young people in the community. Videos produced by EYE have been shown and distributed to schools, libraries and community groups across Toronto and beyond;

EYE video CED, a community economic development initiative employing community youth on a fee-for-service basis to produce videos; and

Studio for Photography Arts, which provides young people with opportunities to work with, and learn from, professional photographers.

Implications for Practice

Consider how the media arts program incorporates the key values of health promotion practice:

Empowerment - The project facilitates the process of empowerment by equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, capacities and resources they need to express their views in a positive way and to take action on the health issues affecting their community.

Equity and Social Justice - The project provides young people from low-income families with opportunities and resources they would not otherwise be able to access. As a result, participants gain marketable skills that can open doors to future educational and career opportunities.

Inclusion - The project reduces feelings of social isolation and marginalization among young people by validating their input and opinions and giving them opportunities to express themselves in creative ways.

Respect - By bringing together young people from a variety of ethno-racial backgrounds, the media arts program helps them to understand and respect a diverse range of cultures and views.

The Media Arts program has been widely acknowledged for its best practices in engaging young people and continues to serve as a model program for health promotion and substance abuse prevention. The comprehensive approach adopted by the project and the active involvement of young people are aspects of the project which are integral to its success.