April 21, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Roberval , Quebec- Denis Lebel, Member of Parliament for Roberval–Lac-Saint-Jean, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced funding for Corporation Idéaux Travail to help eight local young people from Roberval improve their employability.
"The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world," said Mr. Lebel. "From this experience, the young participants will gain the knowledge and skills they need to improve their future and help their community."
The more than $95,000 in funding that Corporation Idéaux Travail is receiving will permit eight young people between the ages of 16 and 30 who did not graduate from high school to participate in group workshops where they will acquire or perfect their transferable workplace skills, which will help them more easily integrate into the work force. The organization aims to carry out projects that struggle against the exodus of young people, favour their inclusion in the work force, and support their participation as job seekers in the community.
During this 24-week project, the participants will create stained-glass pieces that have childhood and culture as a theme. The participants will also hold workshops with preschool and primary-school children, and will use the artwork produced during these workshops to create the stained-glass pieces. Their work will adorn the new storytelling and lecture hall at the Georges-Henri Lévesque Library in Roberval.
Service Canada has funded this project through its Skills Link program, part of the Youth Employment Strategy, which helps youth facing barriers to employment obtain the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to participate in the work force.
Skills Link is one of three Government of Canada programs for youth. The two others are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus. These programs offer a range of activities to meet each participant's needs.
Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop service they can access however they choose-by phone at 1 800 O-Canada, on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.
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Backgrounder
Skills Link
The Skills Link program is one of three Government of Canada programs that help young Canadians (aged 15 to 30) obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs, and stay employed. The two other programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.
Skills Link focuses on helping young people who face barriers to employment. These young people include high school drop-outs, single parents, Aboriginal youth, young people with disabilities, youth in rural areas, and recent immigrants. Summer Work Experience helps secondary and post-secondary students find summer jobs. Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates develop advanced skills and find careers in their fields. All three programs provide a range of activities that can be tailored to meet individual needs.
Projects funded under the Skills Link program have been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grants and contributions programs, and are subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.
