Adolescence. Nothing brings you through the nostalgia of your awkward, hormonal teenage years quite like the word adolescence. Being a teenager in the twenty first century brings a whole slew of overwhelming external and internal struggles. From body image, stress, bullying, depression, eating disorders, cyber addiction and family tensions…the life of a teenager can be series of chain reactions that bring a flood of emotion and anxiety. To help with this crucial journey into adulthood, teenagers need support.
Local youth hang out, The Hideout, is a place where teenagers in the Virden area can experience, as per the vision statement, support through “a community of hope, where no young person goes hungry; spiritually, emotionally, physically or relationally”. As a satellite of the Brandon chapter, Westman Youth For Christ, The Hideout has been a positive place for students to hang out with their peers and enjoy games, food, music and more. Youth For Christ began in the Westman region in 1958 as a Christian organization dedicated to serving young people.
Youth For Christ started Virden programming in 1999 and the official start of The Hideout was in 2000. Marlin Peters, one of the key players getting YFC up and running in Virden stated, “Since it began, it has provided a positive community for groups of kids who didn’t previously feel that sense of belonging or safety anywhere else.”
Kyle Martens has been the Drop-in coordinator at The Hideout for just over two years. He stated that his favourite aspect of his job, “is definitely the drop in nights and hanging out with the kids.” At a drop-in night, which are Thursday and Friday evenings, you can expect to play a lot of games, eat food and learn something positive and relevant to teens. “We’ve started this thing called pop n’ talk, they get a free pop if they ask a question about the bible.” Kyle stated about engaging the youth with the Christian faith, “I like giving that knowledge to them, especially when they want it and being able to see it when it clicks for them.” Kyle’s wife, Susan, works part-time for The Hideout as their Community Coordinator. Currently she’s been hard at work getting ready for a fundraising banquet this week.
According to SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) during the last 30 days 26.4 percent of teens from 12-20 used alcohol and 17.4 percent participated in binge drinking. 72 percent of all high school students have consumed alcohol, which SADD states is speaking of more than ‘just a sip’, by the end of high school and 37 percent have already done so by eighth grade. Teenagers and curiosity can often lead to these sort of statistics and worse. Having positive alternatives for teens to learn and grow is a wonderful thing for Virden and the surrounding area. The Hideout certainly is one of those places where teens can experience community and fun in a safe environment.
