The YIPI (Youth in Policing Initiative) program

Recently I met with Farhana Meghji (equity, culture and Belonging Specialist) at our Cornwall Police Service to get to know more about the YIPI program. Farhane is seen far right beside Alexander Moussa.

Farhana shared:

The YIPI program is incredibly important because it creates meaningful opportunities for youth to develop leadership skills, build confidence, and gain valuable work experience in a supportive and structured environment. It also helps foster positive relationships between young people and police, which is essential for building trust and mutual understanding within our community.

We’re proud to say the program has continued to grow. This year, we’ve expanded from 8 participants to 10, including the addition of two Team Leader roles. These positions are critical for a few reasons. First, they allow returning youth to step into mentorship roles, helping to guide and support their peers through the program. Second, they reinforce leadership development by offering more responsibility and the chance to model professionalism and teamwork.

This growth not only reflects the success of the program but also our commitment to investing in youth and creating pathways for future leaders.
I also spoke with the 2 young youth leaders of the program this year

ALEXANDER MOUSSA (seen in photo #3 below with Team Leader Rebecca) shared:

This summer, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to return to the Youth in Policing Initiative—this time as a Team Leader. After being a YIPI ambassador last year, stepping into this new role has been both exciting and rewarding. Alongside Rebecca, the other team lead, I’ve helped guide our group of 8 YIPI ambassadors through a variety of activities, including leading fitness sessions, delivering bike safety presentations, and giving input on upcoming fundraisers. Being in a leadership position has challenged me to grow, reflect on my strengths, and learn how to better support a team. The YIPI program continues to be an eye-opening experience, and I’m excited to see how the rest of the summer unfolds.

And Rebecca added:

Last summer, I had an amazing opportunity to work alongside the Cornwall police as a Youth In Policing Initiative (YIPI) ambassador. I learned so many eye-opening things, like the different units and career opportunities within policing and how to positively impact the Cornwall community. This summer, things are a little different, I’ve stepped into a new role as YIPI team lead. In the past two weeks, Alex, the other team lead, and I have taken on many responsibilities, such as giving insight on planning fundraisers, leading our daily fitness sessions, and guiding the 8 YIPI ambassadors through a bike safety presentation. Being a team lead has helped me recognize the areas I can improve in and the qualities I can bring to a group environment. The YIPI program has been an amazing learning experience, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store for us.

Me personally, I’m so proud of our youth and very excited to see this program grow in our community

Yaffa Goawily | Art Specialist / Art advisor – community development through art