CAREERS’ Aboriginal Youth Initiative is a one-of-a-kind program designed to bring career education and workplace learning opportunities to Aboriginal youth across Alberta.

 

Identifying needs

 

Recent reports indicate that Aboriginal people under the age of 25 account for nearly half of the Aboriginal population. It is predicted that by 2016, more than 400,000 Aboriginal youth will be entering Alberta’s labour market, and they will evidently represent a significant portion of Alberta’s future workforce.

 

Specific challenges exist  for Aboriginal youth, particularly for those who live in northern Alberta, that contribute to higher unemployment rates compared to non-Aboriginals. In some Aboriginal regions, unemployment rates are as high as 75 percent. Education, career awareness, and skills training are a few ways to bridge the gap between the untapped Aboriginal talent pool and industry’s labour needs.

 

Enabling growth

 

CAREERS recognizes the distinct challenges for youth living on reservations and settlements. The Aboriginal Youth Initiative is about helping more young Aboriginal Albertans complete high school equipped with career development experiences. By promoting a stay-in-school message, providing career awareness through workshops and coordinating hands-on internship opportunities, the Aboriginal Youth Initiative supports CAREERS’ overall vision.

 

CAREERS has an Aboriginal Team who work directly within Aboriginal communities to facilitate learning and training opportunities. Elders, band councils, parents, industry and the education community welcome and support CAREERS' Aboriginal team’s work within Alberta’s communities. During the 2005-2006 school year, our team provided career workshops in 126 Aboriginal schools, with attendance in excess of 3000 students.

 

Our work doesn’t stop there. By September 2008, CAREERS plans to have an active presence in 52 Aboriginal communities in Alberta.

 

How you can help

 

CAREERS is making a difference in Aboriginal communities, and we recognize that none of this would be possible without support from our investors and stakeholders.

 

By supporting the Aboriginal Youth Initiative, you are:

•               Responding to needs within Aboriginal communities
•               Creating local opportunities for capacity building
•               Deepening talent pools across Alberta

 To learn more about the Aboriginal Youth Initiative, please Contact Us.