Ahead of summer break, School District 83 is trying to educate the business community as well as students about the work experience program and its opportunities.
District career education coordinator George Richard and work experience and dual credit liaison David Ramsay are getting the message out now as May is typically the time that students start applying for summer jobs. If they’re going to be working anyway, they might as well get school credits, too.
“We really want to emphasize how much of a win-win-win it is,” Richard said. “Not just for the students, but for the community, for the employers and the school district, so you can actually put four wins.”
He further explained those wins as the student earning school credits while making money and/or getting invaluable experience, the employer having someone doing the job, the school district receiving provincial funding for that work experience that is reinvested in those schools, and the community's skilled young people.
“The idea, is to help young people when they step off the grad stage, they’re stepping into something they’ve got experience, they know what the next steps look like,” Ramsay said. “Here’s the thing about young people, they’re quick, they’re funny, they’re energetic, they’re enthusiastic, they’re fun, they’re smart... but they lack the experience.”
While students ideally want a job that pays, the program acknowledges some employers’ hesitation over that lack of experience so it also gives credits for volunteer work to help them bridge that gap.
“What’s interesting culturally, is I don’t know how much society values volunteer work,” Ramsay said. “What I’ve run into is how does a student get hired if they don’t have experience? How do you get experience, well you volunteer. The value of volunteer work is kind of like an investment in yourself so that you can offer... value to the employer.”
While the district has long had a work experience program in a more general sense, it is now taking a more focused approach while “enhancing” five main industries: health and human services, manufacturing and technology, hospitality and tourism, environment and climate change, and agriculture.
As part of that targeted approach, the two are putting together a database of contacts and employers interested in participating as a way to help place kids in a field of interest. Through that, Ramsay is reaching out and spending time with businesses in those industries, explaining the program and then having those points of contact in placing students.
To get the four credits for work experience, students have to complete 120 work hours and track their tasks which the employer then signs off on. That paperwork is submitted to the Ministry of Education to give those credits to the student.
For their part, businesses are only required to have a valid WorkSafeBC account, as a recognized employer. Any companies interested in having students placed with them or learning more about the program can contact Richard or Ramsey through the district office at 250-832-2157, or by email at grichard@sd83.bc.ca or dramsay@sd83.bc.ca.
“We really wish employers in our community and the region, we’re just letting them know of these opportunities to make a difference in the community,” Richard said. “And for young people when it comes to work experience.”
