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YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM FINAL REPORT, 2000-2001 Youth Work Experience Program 2000/2001 Final Report Prepared by the First Nations Schools Association & the First Nations Education Steering Committee Society Final Report November 2001 YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM FINAL REPORT, 2000-2001 Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Highlights from the Final Reports .................................................................................... 2 Campbell River Band ...................................................................................................... 6 Chehalis Community School ......................................................................................... 14 Gingolx First Nation....................................................................................................... 18 Namgis Health Centre................................................................................................... 25 Nuxalk Nation................................................................................................................ 29 Osoyoos Indian Band.................................................................................................... 33 Seabird Island Band...................................................................................................... 36 Snuneymuxw First Nation ............................................................................................. 40 Songhees First Nation................................................................................................... 47 Squamish First Nation................................................................................................... 50 T’Sou-ke Nation ............................................................................................................ 57 Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a............................................................................................. 62 Yekooche First Nation................................................................................................... 72 Evaluations and Supplementary Documents Appendix A Campbell River Indian Band Appendix B Chehalis Community School Appendix C Gingolx First Nation Appendix D Namgis Health Centre Appendix E Nuxalk Nation Appendix F Osoyoos Indian Band Appendix G Seabird Island Band Appendix H Snuneymuxw First Nation Appendix I Songhees First Nation Appendix J Squamish Nation Stitsma Employment Centre Appendix K T-Sou-ke Nation Appendix L Wilp Wixo’oskwl Nisga’a Appendix M Yekooche First Nation Table of Participants and Funding Sources YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM FINAL REPORT, 2000-2001 Introduction Through diverse community-based initiatives, the Youth Work Experience Program (YWE Program) encourages First Nations youth to establish and achieve their goals. This program, which a recent study indicates was strongly supported First Nations, is an important part of building strong, self-reliant communities. The YWE Program is one of four youth programs administered jointly by the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and the First Nations Schools Association (FNSA), funded annually by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (DIAND). In 2000-2001, we received thirty-six proposals applying for YWE Program funding, and were able to fund twelve separate initiatives (representing fourteen First Nations), demonstrating a great demand on this resource. The First Nations School Association was responsible for reviewing the YWE Program proposals. A sub-committee reviewed all proposals and selected the programs to be funded in the 2000/2001 year. The sub-committee also determined the amount of funding to be allocated to each successful applicant, ensuring that sufficient funding was allocated to foster success. In order to ensure that the process is free from conflict of interest, any member of the committee whose institution or community submitted a proposal was ineligible to participate in discussions about or vote on that proposal. All applicants were informed of the committee’s decision. Individuals eligible to participate in the program included youth between the ages of 17 and 24 who live on-reserve and are unemployed at the time a project begins. Exceptions were made for youth under age 17 if they have completed High School, or were for some other reason not legally required to attend High School. A primary goal of this youth program was to provide unemployed and out-of-school First Nations youth with opportunities to increase their employability, confidence, and sense of direction. A local YWE Program might include workshops/components on job search skills, career counseling, work placements, academic upgrading, culture and personal counseling. Each year, there was a wide variety in the YWE Programs reflecting each First Nations’ efforts to address the distinct needs of their youth, and their communities. This report is an edited collection of the final reports received from the 2000/2001 YWE Programs, and it features interim report details, selected appendices, and a summary chart. 1 YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM FINAL REPORT, 2000-2001 Highlights from the Final Reports Employment Skills and Training The 1999/2000 YWE Program provided supervised work experience for out-of-school unemployed youth in community service, community businesses, or other work experiences that contributed to long-term success of young people. The YWE Program helped participants to attain valuable job search skills and training they required to be employable. The YWE Program objectives intended to: • Provide unemployed youth with work in a supportive environment, giving them valuable experience for future employability or encouraging them to return to school • Provide an opportunity for personal development for unemployed youth by helping them to develop individual plans to set direction for their future • Provide young people with an avenue to contribute to their communities through their work in service projects (if that approach is taken) • Allow communities to benefit form the energy, talents and creative strength of youth • Establish partnerships with public and private organizations to increase employment opportunities for youth Workshops on resume writing; interview skills, cover letters, and job search strategies were important components of all of the YWE Programs. Several YWE Programs also familiarized their participants with local organizations that would aid them in their current and future job searches. Chehalis First Nation participants helped to host a career fair that not only was good experience in event planning, but also introduced the youth to local employers. 2 YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM FINAL REPORT, 2000-2001 Hand-in-hand with job search training came employment/career counseling. The participants identified a career interest and in charting a path to attain this goal. Whenever possible, when selecting a suitable work placement for a participant his/her career direction was a contributing factor. Youth participants at the Campbell River Band developed action plans that helped in the development and design of the program. Participants helped plan their own work experiences, policies and contracts providing them with a sense of ownership to their program. YWE Program participants participated in Super Host, computer tutorials, life skills and other training opportunities. In isolated communities, materials for program were often difficult to access. Resources that were available in urban centres, such as libraries, job search centres, and employment professionals, were often inaccessible and program facilitators worked hard to locate and adapt materials for the participants. Work Placements Each participant took part in one or more paid work placements under the guidance of a work placement supervisor. In several instances, work placements led to offers of employment or inspired the youths to undertake post-secondary study. An example was from the Songhees First Nation program report, on how one participant was going to continue Adult Basic Education. Another participant enrolled in a local business administration and computer-training center. One participant was working in a full-time position. A T’sou-ke Nation participant work placement led to an offer of a job for the duration of the tourist season at the Oak Bay Marina Restaurant. For many more youth, the work placements greatly increased their job skills, work ethic, and employability. The length and type of work/community placement activities varied with the level of education of participants and the unemployment characteristics of the region in which the First Nation is situated. Job opportunities are often scarce in and around First Nations communities and, as a result, the work placement options were sometimes limited. Congratulation to all the YWE Program leaders for the creative solutions they found for their youth despite the challenges. 3 YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM FINAL REPORT, 2000-2001 Academic Component Most youth came to the YWE Program without the academic skills or credentials to enter post-secondary education programs. Through the YWE Program, many had the opportunity to upgrade their education and set goals for higher education. YWE Program leaders were required to develop individual learning plans with each youth, determining the youth's personal education goals and the actions necessary to achieve these