Doing your part to lead young people to making good decisions can be as simple as going out to eat at your favourite restaurant.
This week, 12 local eateries are participating in a new fundraising initiative for Northern HIV and Health Education Society, called Eating Out for Youth Education.
On Thursday, Sept. 15, A&A Burger Bar, Amigo's Taco Shop, Cafe Voltaire, Cazba Mediterranean Caf, College Heights 2 for 1 Pizza, Extreme Pita, Hummus Brothers Tapas Bar, Margo's Caf, Mario's 2 for 1 Pizza, Spicy Green, Taco Del Mar and Twisted Cork will donate 10 per cent of that day's revenue to the organization.
"We take a health approach. We believe the healthier you are, the healthier your decisions will be," said Northern HIV and Health Education Society executive director Mary Jackson.
The organization will use the money to run programs which provide young people with the knowledge and skills required to make healthy choices when it comes to sex and other risky behaviours.
The fundraiser also allows for the area being served to learn more about the society.
"This is about the community getting to know who we are," she said. Northern HIV has up to 4,000 people in their workshops annually, but there are still many myths and misconceptions about sexual health.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, youth between the ages of 15 and 29 have accounted for more than 26 per cent of all positive HIV test reports. In addition, the Cedar Project, researching aboriginal youth living in Prince George and Vancouver in 2007, found the hepatitis C prevalence to be higher locally (62 per cent versus 57 per cent)among young people using street drugs than in the southern city.
Formed in 2007 as a response to a community-identified need for education concerning HIV and hepatitis C, the non-profit society now needs to increase their staffing to facilitate having full-time educators, especially younger ones who can better connect with the youth workshop participants.
"I've seen research that shows the amount of [sex] education for youth has decreased. If youth don't know how to protect themselves, they can't protect themselves," Jackson added.
Jackson said putting together the event was a challenge - convincing businesses to give up profits during a a tough economy was no easy task. However, she said she is already looking forward to this being an annual event.
"The community has been amazing so far. If half of the people who say they are going to, eat out on Thursday, that would be amazing," Jackson said.
