Human Service Programs > Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) > CYP Purpose and Values

Purpose and Values

A Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) staff member guides a youth through a reading activity. Both are seated on a bench in an indoor basketball court.

CYP’s purpose is to provide Cambridge young people with a just, joyful, and caring community where they forge healthy relationships, discover who they are, and develop new skills for now and for the future.

Fostering Growth and Transformation

We have a responsibility to create challenging learning environments that empower young people in discovery about the world and themselves.

Honoring Youth

We believe in young peoples’ inherent brilliance. We place youth voice, needs and experience at the center of our work.

Building Community

We believe that authentic relationships and an environment of trust, safety and acceptance are at the heart of a community that supports the success of young people.

Embracing Energy

We believe that we are all responsible for the energy we bring to our relationships and our community and the impact that our actions have on others. We are all connected and through our collective power we can all achieve more.

Living Social Justice

We serve with equity across all identities and honor the responsibility that we must actively combat racism and all forms of oppression.

Facilitating Fun

We bring joy and passion into our work.

Youth Outcomes

A group of three youth from Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) pose for a photo

All our programs are developed to uphold CYP’s core values and these three youth outcomes:

1. Leadership Development

Having the bravery and confidence in yourself to guide others towards a common purpose with wisdom, kindness and support. Leadership is knowing when to share learning and perspective, and when to ask for help.

2. Champion Mentorship

Part of every staff member’s job description is to be a champion to young people. A CYP Champion is a staff member that expresses care, challenges growth, provides support, shares power, and expands possibilities for young people. Research has shown that contact with a mentor/champion can profoundly impact a young person’s life.

3. Future Planning

CYP helps young people chart a path that supports their curiosity to explore and build skills, strategies, and networks to identify and develop areas of interest into academic, post-secondary, and/or personal goals. The process includes Success Plans to focus on actionable and realistic goal setting, planning, and decision-making that are developed in partnership with a Champion.

Youth Outcomes

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