Resilient youth pose in front of the dedicated graffiti wall on Carter's Hill Place for the back cover of the "Voices For Youth" zine

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Introduction

For the Love of Learning, Inc is an ambitious, arts-based education and employment not-for-profit, helping Newfoundland and Labrador youth successfully overcome social and/or economic obstacles.

Run by trained professionals and volunteers, the organization offers a variety of free and creativity-based workshops. All workshops are designed from the paradigm that the best learning is both fun and productive. While the core workshops have always been writing, art, theatre and journalism, the organization has branched into film, music, philosophy, Aikido, entrepreneurship and more.

For the Love of Learning was founded by journalist and community activist Robin Grant in 2006, after she recognized a need for a positive, unconditional learning environment for at-risk youth in Newfoundland and Labrador and, especially, St. John’s. The organization has grown and prospered, completing a variety of projects that have brought confidence, new skills, recognition and even money to its youth participants.

With the support of the Department of Human Resources, Labour & Employment, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the organization implemented an ambitious long-term vision called Watering the Seeds. The plan was designed to further improve and expand upon services and resources available to our province’s young adults.

Now in year two, the plan has seen -

- the launch of a professionally produced youth newspaper (backBEAT),

- production of five lines of Holiday cards cards (three of Christmas scenes; two of mummer cards) featuring artwork by young Newfoundland and Labrador artists, (40% of final sales are returned to youth artists for their relative contributions, while 60% go to production and distribution),

- the completion of two short films,

- the writing and staging of four theatrical plays,

- four annual Mummer plays, performed throughout St. John’s,

- completion of four fiction anthologies,

- a professional gallery exhibition for young adult artists ,

- an education and career shadowing week.

Funding and support for For the Love of Learning is provided by:

Department of Human Resources, Labour & Employment, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador,

Service Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador Community Youth Network

Molson Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council

The Gathering Place

Gower St. United Church

The community-at-large of St. John’s.