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The Riverview P.R.O. Kids story began almost nine years ago, when Riverview's Parks and Recreation Department learned about an exciting and innovative new program that was developed by the City of Thunder Bay.

The P.R.O. Kids vision statement is "that all children in Thunder Bay are able to participate in recreation activities, which boost their self-esteem and promote healthy growth through the learning of new skills, increased knowledge and personal development".

P.R.O. Kids matches youth and children in need with community-based recreational activities, everything from sports to arts and cultural programs. This was just the initiative that Riverview's Parks and Recreation Department was seeking.

Our staff had recognized that, according to statistics available to them in 2000, eight percent of Riverview's population was living in poverty, with at least 800 individuals being children under the age of 18.

Of course, there are also those living above the poverty line who are still barely able to make ends meet. This is the case for more and more of today's families - the working poor. Registering a child for a dance class, Scouts or tae kwon do is considered an "extra", a luxury that many families simply cannot afford.

So, in January 2001, after consulting with the City of Thunder Bay and collaborating with organizations serving youth in our community, Riverview P.R.O. Kids was born. Since its start, 461 of our children and youth have been able to take advantage of as many as four recreational activities per year - one per season - with various organizations in the area.

Over the past several years, we have seen many other communities begin to offer similar programs for their children and youth, such as Saint John, Edmunston, Halifax and, most recently, Dieppe.

Obviously, more and more communities are recognizing that recreation is an important part of a child's health and well-being, and that everyone should have a chance to participate, regardless of their family's financial situation.

P.R.O. Kids gives children and youth the opportunity to just be kids and eliminates the roadblocks that often stand in the way of their participation in recreational programs. Barriers such as registration costs, transportation and equipment are removed with the P.R.O. Kids program, allowing children and youth the opportunity to reap the personal, social and environmental benefits of recreation.

In addition, they gain from the developmental assets they are building in the process, such as fostering other adult relationships, feeling that they live in a caring neighbourhood, feeling valued by the community, having adult role models, and of course, making constructive use of their time. All of these external assets help our children and youth to build a solid foundation to help them succeed in life.

Studies show that youth who enjoy full, active lives are much less likely to turn to destructive behaviour and are much more likely to prosper with confidence and self-esteem. It just makes sense to take our children out of the sidelines and put them into the game.

* Community Assets is provided on a bi-weekly basis by members of the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick's Youth First Committee.