Healthy Communities • YMCA Youth Programs
Our latest Youth 4 Youth Contest award winner, Amir, tells us what it took
17 September 2018 - by YMCA of Greater Toronto
Amir is the first grand prize winner of the Youth 4 Youth Digital Media Competition. The contest is sponsored by OLG, and run by YMCA’s Youth Gambling Awareness Program. Contestants put together a video and poster explaining online and gaming-type gambling youth might be exposed to, with a goal of bringing awareness and understanding to the subject of problem gambling.
Amir is a YouTuber who hosts a language and trivia channel that helps to bridge gaps for people from his ethnic community, and those that are neighbouring his native Iran. He was 4 years old when he came to Canada, and was excited about his new country and just wanted to learn more. He remembers being interested in other people’s experiences, being curious about other cultures, and what languages they spoke.
In Grade 11, he took a Media Studies course, and learned that he really likes making videos. After watching other YouTubers, he decided to try it himself. So, whenever he did a video project in school, he would upload those videos to YouTube. He soon started to build a following, and upgraded to a more professional studio setup. Today, he makes entertaining language videos, with games and puzzles to challenge viewers, along with comedy skits showing the culture behind the different languages he helps to educate on.
When Amir heard about the Digital Media Competition through a Facebook ad, he decided to give it a shot. It was a new topic that pushed him out of his comfort zone, and he was surprised and happy to win the top prize. “If you have a passion for making videos, or championing for social issues, you should try out for the contest,” Amir says. “It’s fun, and a great learning opportunity.”
Learn more about the Youth 4 Youth Digital Media Competition.
Amir is a YouTuber who hosts a language and trivia channel that helps to bridge gaps for people from his ethnic community, and those that are neighbouring his native Iran. He was 4 years old when he came to Canada, and was excited about his new country and just wanted to learn more. He remembers being interested in other people’s experiences, being curious about other cultures, and what languages they spoke.
In Grade 11, he took a Media Studies course, and learned that he really likes making videos. After watching other YouTubers, he decided to try it himself. So, whenever he did a video project in school, he would upload those videos to YouTube. He soon started to build a following, and upgraded to a more professional studio setup. Today, he makes entertaining language videos, with games and puzzles to challenge viewers, along with comedy skits showing the culture behind the different languages he helps to educate on.
When Amir heard about the Digital Media Competition through a Facebook ad, he decided to give it a shot. It was a new topic that pushed him out of his comfort zone, and he was surprised and happy to win the top prize. “If you have a passion for making videos, or championing for social issues, you should try out for the contest,” Amir says. “It’s fun, and a great learning opportunity.”
Learn more about the Youth 4 Youth Digital Media Competition.
