Do you see yourself seeking independence, self sustainability and living out your dreams? Do you want to enrich your connection to the land, healing methods and gain skills in holistic wellness?  Are you ready to expand your awareness and learn new things about your world?

The Dreamseeds Project is a program offered to self-identified women between the ages of 15 and 25.  The program is rooted in the medicine wheel concept of holistic living that connects the emotional/mental/physical/spiritual aspects of the women with the life support systems that exist on the land and within our urban environment.  Participants will explore personal experiences and stories and from them pull an awareness of the world around them and empower themselves to make change in their lives and connect to a wider community.  The core goal of every participant is to grow towards sustainable, fulfilling and self-reliant lives.  Basically the idea is to take five months and do whatever it takes for participants to get a lot closer to the kinds of lives they hope and dream for. 

Dreamseeds recognizes that we are on Coast Salish Territory and the program is based on an anti-oppression, anti-racist feminist analysis that acknowledges the effects colonization has had on our society.  We are open to women of all backgrounds who are willing to explore a variety of teachings, including indigenous knowledge and concepts. Participants will leave the program with skills in leadership, conflict transformation, and community building; as well as skills and tools that they define as important to self-growth. Racialized and Indigenous women are strongly encouraged to apply.

The actual construction of the program depends on the interests, needs, and skills of participants and staff. Past programs have included: community internships, yoga, collective and individual art projects, organic gardening, environmental sustainability, community and social network building, music and drama workshops, event planning, college entrance, educational counseling and planning, community kitchens, food security, consensus decision-making, leadership training, conflict negotiation and non-violent communication workshops, finding work, starting jobs, field trips, collaging, sexual health presentations, self-defense training, medicinal herb walks, gardening, zine-making and much else.  

The positions are for 30 hrs per week, running Tuesday through Friday 9:30 - 4:30, April 14th – September 4th 2009 . Participants are paid $8 per/hour and each receive a $500 completion bonus.   

Some other details:

• The project takes place at the Purple Thistle. (More or less at Clark and Venables)
• The job requires the ability to work independently and creatively. At the same time the capacity to work collaboratively and with a tight group is essential.
• Upon acceptance you must be willing to commit to 2 field trips outside the city
  
• You will need to be understanding of a wide range of backgrounds and personalities, and willing to work closely with people who are very different from you and each other. Flexibility and good-humouredness are assets.
• The more ideas and interests you have, the more hopes and dreams you have for your future the better.
• We are prioritizing Indigenous and racialized women as well as women facing poverty

If you are interested, please contact Lindsay Bomberry, Lenlen Castro and Matt Hern at: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está protegida contra los robots de spam, necesita tener Javascript activado para poder verla  or call Matt at 604.253.7475. If you can provide a little information it will give us a jump-start on the interview process. Start with: Name; Age; andBased on the description of the program and the criteria for participation, what about your life experience and goals makes you want to participate in the program? And anything else you think we should know or might be important.