AAMB launches innovative youth program

The Akwesasne Area Management Board began their summer program last week with the help of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Ontario Power Generation, MCA’s Community Support Program, AMBE and Iohahi:io. This summer program focuses on teaching 40 high school students from age 14-18 a host of skills including soft skills, creative writing, website design, modern debate and various teambuilding activities within a 6-week period.

The 40 participants were selected from the pool of Summer SEED applicants who did not receive a summer job and identified themselves as being interested in alternative programming. The information was presented to students during AAMB outreach sessions at the local schools in the area. These students are paid a stipend of $25 a day to participate and also to attend a job shadow component that rotates between different groups giving them value for their time spent learning.

Two coordinators have been brought on board to manage the day-to-day operations of the program. Trent Jacobs and Victoria Smoke work with five teachers to offer a selection of three possible topics during each period throughout the day. Participants are allowed to choose tracks that interest them in hopes of exposing them at an earlier age to their desired career that they want to be involved in after graduating from high school.

“Last year 126 high school students applied for summer jobs and only 21 were placed,” explained Career Development Officer Nathan Sunday who oversees the entire project. “Parents have told us that this [program] is needed and are very thankful that we are putting it on.”

“At first a lot were saying that this was just like summer school,” said Trent Jacobs. “But they are growing used to the formatting.”

In addition the courses being offered there have also been guest speakers setup to talk about a range of issues relating to their futures. Norma Sunday and Rod Cook are slated to discuss higher education and the process to apply for both college and financial aid. Representatives from organizations like Ontario Power Generation have also agreed to come in to talk about future job prospects and trends within their organization as the workforce approaches retirement age.

“We have a college and careers exploration that will help to explain what it takes to jump from the public school system to a private school,” said Victoria Smoke. “It will explain in college what majors and minors are and general college issues.”

A college and career day is slated for August 3 for program participants to have the opportunity to meet with local colleges and businesses to see what the actual market looks like. The outdoor education course has been taking students to Iakhisohtha to have them walk with elders through the halls. The creative writing class is looking to develop children’s books that can then be given to local day care centers.

“In the web design course there are some people looking to buy a website from the participants who are working on creating a page to help with a golf league,” added Sunday. “There has also been work on creative video editing of home movies, culture classes and fun backyard games.”

The overall scope of the programming is intended to engage the youth participants to think outside of the box. It teaches them that they can learn and have fun at the same time. There is great promise with this fledgling program as local colleges take note and have asked to be included in the planning of the program for next summer.

To date, all of the spaces for the 40 participants have been filled. For more information on this and other AAMB programs contact the board office at 613-575-2626.