Providing career development programs for youth in need

When you are faced with realities such as oppression and poverty as a youth, plus are experiencing being a new parent for the first time, having a strong education and career path can seem impossible. But with positive guidance and support, these youth can focus on enhancing their future and finding the path that is right for them. 

Career Trek is an organization focused on supporting the enhancement of education for young people in Manitoba, from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Through experiential exploration of up to 80 different careers, participants get a first-hand look at what opportunities exist for them in the future and how those careers are tied to what they are learning in school and what they are interested in. As a result of the outbreak of COVID-19, Career Trek now has to also pivot to provide online learning to ensure participants still have the opportunity to explore careers as well as enhance important employability skills. 

Through a $20,000 grant provided by the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, Career Trek will partner with Opaskwayak Education Services and University College of the North, in northern Manitoba, to develop a new program that focuses on helping youth who are also young mothers continue their education and plan for their future. The program will engage young moms who have put their education on pause, supporting them with virtual and in class career training and more flexible classes to help them graduate. Through this support, Career Trek will also ensure that they have the transportation and food they need to help them complete their education. The ultimate goal is to reduce the barriers that might traditionally prohibit a young mom from finishing their schooling. 

“This investment from the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is so important because it will give youth and young moms living in northern Manitoba the tools, resources and experiences they need to make informed decisions about their future,” says Career Trek CEO, Rhonda Taylor.“ The knowledge and awareness they’ll gain over the course of the program will empower them to become their own education and career champions, and will ultimately open the door to endless possibilities for themselves and their children.” 

In partnership with charitable organizations like Career Trek, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is able to invest in youth in rural communities and put a strong focus on education. By providing funding, participants in these programs have an opportunity to develop the skills they need to pursue future opportunities and build brighter futures.