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W students learning

job skills in NV program

Work Orientation Workshop at Keith Lynn school

A DILEMMA facing many new entrants to the working believes the experience gained in
world is the frustrating vicious circle that goes something
like this: ‘Pin told 1 need experience to get a job, but
without a job I can't get any experience.”

An innevative pilot program at
Keith Lynn secondary schoo! in
North Vancouver is designed fo
help young adults break this
frustrating Catch-22 situation.

The WOW program -- Work
Orientation Workshops -—-  mat-
ches students "p with employers in
the community for a three-month,
two-day-a-week work term.

Funded entirely by the federal
government, the program also
allows the students to participate
in a number of workshops design-
ed to teach them skills that are
essential for landing a jot. These
include interviewing and com-
municating tips, resume writing
and other skills that many of us
take for granted.

Students went to Granville
Island on a ‘‘job scavenger hunt,’’
learned how to apply for a Social
Insurance Card, completed a
first-aid course through St. John
Ambulance, and attended oa finan-
cial planning seminar at Canada
Trust as part of the workshop.

“I went into the program with
an open mind, not knowing what
to expect, and I was thrilled by
the results,’ said program coor-
dinator Janice Wright.

The entire inaugural class of the
pilot project graduated from the
program last month, and Wright
is currently interviewing for a new

By A.P. McCredie
News Reporter

crop to begin the program on
Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Grika Thorsen worked at Suzy
Shier in Capilano Mall.

“! fearned same new job skills,
like how to use a till, and other
on-the-job training that I
wouldn’t be able to get unless |
had the job,” she said.

Not only did she learn new
skills, but Thorson impressed her
boss so much that she was hired
by the store following the conclu-
sion of the three-month program.

Tyler Ross did his internship at
London Drugs on Granville Street
in Vancouver, and was also hired
once the program ended — earn-
ing substantially more than mini-
mum wage.

For many of the participants,
the work program was the first
real job they hav ever held.

“All the students went through
typical interviews with prospective
employers and all were taken on,”
said Wright.

Though Keith Lynn’s mandate
of “keeping kids in school’’ may
seem to be contradicted by a pro-
gram that has them out of the
school two days a week, Wright

‘h Of

suggested rotai!

Roller Blinds |

the ‘real world" compliments and
balances what they learn in
school.

“hr othink it (WOW) gives the
students a realistic view of not on-
ly the working world, but also
how the things they are taughi in
school apply to life outside
school,’’ she said.

To stay in the program, stu-
dents must keep up with their
homework assignments and their
attendance.

For many of the students, it
was also a first-hand experience
of what working for minimum
wage entails.

“! really liked the program
because it made me realize how
hard you have to work Just for a
minimum wage,’’ said Andrew
Nichols, who worked at Ray-
mond’s Hair Salon.

Wright said that the response
from the business community has
also been a positive aspect of the
new program, noting that the nia-
jority of the employers involved in
the first run have signed up for
the next program.

The businesses who participated
in the first class include: two
Fairweather stores, Capilano Mall
and Park Royal; Blockbuster
Video, Park & Tilford Mall;
Shoppers Drug ‘iart, Capilano
Mall; two White Spots, Granville
and Broadway and Park and
Tilford maii; North Shore Keg;

See Program page 48

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NEWS photo Miko Waketle!d

THESE KEITH Lynn Secondary schoo! students took part in an
innovative work project, called WOW, developed by program
coordinator Janice Wright (lower right), and financed by the fed-
eral government

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