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BC Youth Parliament open to applications from locals

Young people interested in getting a close look at the B.C. legislature might consider applying to the British Columbia Youth Parliament, which is accepting applications until Oct. 26 for December.

Young people interested in getting a close look at the B.C. legislature might consider applying to the British Columbia Youth Parliament, which is accepting applications until Oct. 26 for December.

The BCYP is looking for 95 young men and women ages 16 to 21 years to visit Victoria this Christmas, where they will debate important service projects to benefit the youth of the province, and put those plans in place in 2012.

"BCYP is education and community service in action," says Jessica McElroy, premier for the upcoming year of BCYP. "We're after young people who want to learn more about our system of government, make life-long friends, and take part in projects that benefit our province's youth.

"We're asking community leaders, elected officials, and others to think about young people who'd be great members of this organization and put their names forward."

The BCYP is a non-partisan service organization that plans, fundraises for and puts in place projects that help improve the lives of young people. These include group community service events, partnerships with community service organizations, regional model parliaments, and individual youth volunteer projects.

BCYP members spend time at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria between Boxing Day and New Years Eve to debate and vote on the organization's proposed activities and issues of local, national and international importance. All members sit as independents and are free to vote according to their conscience on the issues.

Members must be between 16 and 21 years of age, residents of the province for the past year, able to commit to a year's worth of service, and interested in learning more about how our democratic system works. More information and membership applications are available at www.bcyp.org. The application deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 26.