We support youth travel for those aged 10 to 17 in precarious situations.
Key facts Indicators Young people’s needs Our expertsWhy travel?
1 youth in 7 lives in a low-income household
According to the Observatoire Jeunes et Société, 14% of young people in Quebec live in low-income households.
- Observatoire Jeunes et Société, 2019, “Proportion of adolescents age 11 to 17 living in low-income households according to the Low Income Measure (LIM), 2006 to 2016 (in percentages)”, table by the INRS for the OJS, data produced by Statistics Canada, from the 2006 and 2016 surveys and the 2011 National Household Survey.
1 high school student in 4 experiences low self-esteem
According to the Rosenberg Scale.
- Observatoire Jeunes et Société, 2019, “Proportion of secondary school students who have low self-esteem according to the Rosenberg Scale, 2016-2017 (in percentages)”, table by the INRS for the OJS, from public data from the Québec Health Survey of High School Students (QHSHSS), from the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), 2016-2017.
1 youth in 3 lives with psychological distress
According to the Observatoire Jeunes et Société, more than one-third of young people score high on the psychological distress scale.
- Observatoire Jeunes et Société, 2019, “Proportion of youth age 15 to 17 who score high on the psychological distress scale, 2014-2015 (in percentages)”, table by the INRS for the OJS, from public data from the 2014-2015 Québec Population Health Survey (QPHS).
Travel contributes to the well-being of young people
5 indicators highlighting the need to create a more equal and open world for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
Education
22%
of young people in Quebec from disadvantaged backgrounds leave school without a diploma or qualifications.
mental health
2/10
of secondary students in Quebec have at least one diagnosis of a mental health illness.
Adolescence: an essential time of life, between fragility and hope
In spite of the prejudices that surround it, adolescence is one of the richest periods in a person’s life. Not only is it a period of significant physical changes, but some neuropsychological studies also show that teens’ brains undergo a major “reshuffling” during this phase of existence. Looking to build their adult life while discovering themselves, teens yearn to leave the family environment and to shift toward their peers. The world around them takes on a whole new meaning and invites them, little by little, to discover it.
We contribute to young people’s well-being with travel experiences
The 7 psychological needs of young people, according to Michel Fize
Need for Trust
Trust is unconditional: it’s not something you can buy. Those who receive trust can then give it to others. With trust comes self-esteem and the desire to act.
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Need for Dialogue
Dialogue is the exchange of ideas, which may lead to disagreements: thinking for yourself means thinking differently from someone else. Dialogue assumes that the people speaking are equals. Dialogue is a preventative response to violence.
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Need for Security
The feeling of security depends on markers, references and beliefs (parental). It does not depend on making things off limits or forbidden, or on authority, which are instead expressions of power. It involves reassuring and constantly supporting the teen who lives in a troubling world.
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Need for Autonomy
Autonomy is being able to choose for yourself your standard of conduct, the direction of your actions and the risks you’re willing to take. Autonomy is the very meaning of adolescence (and of education in general). Teens can experiment. They have to take risks to grow; they have the right to make mistakes.
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Need for Taking responsability
Teens are less in need of empowerment, which is still an exercise of adult power, than of assuming both personal and social responsibilities. Responsibility brings back the (lost) feeling of usefulness.
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Need for Affection
Affection (love and friendship) is the most important thing for a teen who needs to love and to be loved. Teens need to hear how important they are to others, especially to their parents. You can never love them too much.
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Need for Hope
Hope is something many teens lack in a very demanding world, such as the hope of succeeding in school, succeeding in love, choosing the right career.
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A team of experts who guarantee the impact of our initiatives
Leading experts have been mobilized to not only contribute scientific support to our educational pathway, but also to measure the impact of our approach and to validate our intentions toward young people, their families and their schools.
why travel?
Travel encourages young people to think differently, motivates them to chart their own path, and to envision new possibilities. This wealth of experiences has the power to completely transform their life journey.
Many essential life skills are developed during a single trip:
Adaptability
Getting out of one’s comfort zone to explore new places and discover different cultures.
Cooperation
Helping others and sharing moments with other young people.
Communication
Enriching encounters and friendships with people from all over the world.
Empathy
Having a better understanding of the world and the people in it.
Organization
Learning to find information and planning a trip.
Self-confidence
Trying new activities to acquire life skills.