Program designed to help youth succeed at work
By Nik Green
The fifth annual Boundary Youth Success Program is well under way with 10 new participants setting out to further their employability skills at Community Futures Boundary. Funded by Service Canada, the program is designed to assist youth ages 15-30 that face various barriers to employment.
The 14-week course offers an array of life skills, training, certification and employability skills that enable the youth to enter the workforce, return to work or return to schooling.
Under the guidance of the Community Futures – Boundary, Program Coordinator James Wilson operates the program from the satellite office located in the former Access Center building in Grand Forks. Wilson schedules facilitators to teach the youth in various areas. Katy Spark, Shad Tourcotte, Dave Jackson and Nik Green each spend time with the group to develop their skill set and prepare them for the workforce.
Tourcotte, Spark and Green each focus on communication, presentation and personal management while Jackson provides a course in self-defense. In house counseling by Darrin Pratt enables the youth to manage personal issues.
The personal successes achieved by participants in previous years demonstrates the value of Boundary Youth Success Program. Community Futures continues to see an increase in the number of applicants each year, largely due to public awareness, promotions, and a short film following the youths’ exploits.
The program culminates with a job shadow portion, providing youth the opportunity to gain valuable hands on work experience. The certificates received during the program have also enabled participants to venture out of the area in search for meaningful employment. Some of the certificates obtained include WHMIS, Fire Suppression, Foodsafe, Worldhost and First Aid.
For further information on programs and services contact Community Futures Boundary at (250) 442-2722 or visit their website at www.boundarycf.com.
Photo: From Left: Project Coordinator James Wilson, Jesse McNeil, Brittany Portelance, Scott Blades, Clinton Megli, Jake Metz, Devin Legebokoff, Amanda Taylor, Nathan Hoogie, Calvin Bennett; missing: Sheala Dean.
