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Wider Horizons program offers work experience to visitors from Ireland n the past week or so, IChronicle readers may have noticed an influx of Irish folk into their stores, bars or even workplaces. Don‘t be alarmed â€" the Irish in question are trainees from Dublin and Belfast, participating in an eightâ€" week work experience proâ€" gram _ coâ€"ordinated _ by Lutherwood _ Community Opportunities Development Association (CODA), whose office is on Bridge Street East, Kitchener. Lutherwood CODA works in conjunction with Wider Horizons, which is a crossâ€"community initiative dedicated to providing young Irish people with releâ€" vant experience in their choâ€" sen career path. The interâ€" national Fund for Ireland is sponsoring the project. The 17 trainees, aged 18â€" 28, are working Mondayâ€" Thursday in the Kitchenerâ€" Waterloo area in a variety of fields including customer service, IT, engineering, sports and leisure. Additional business training is provided at the CODA offices on Fridays. Karen Dwyer has been manager of international programs at CODA for four years and speaks enthusiasâ€" tically about the project. "I gain personal satisfacâ€" tion from seeing young peoâ€" ple improving their job skills and hopefully taking them back to Ireland," she said. "I really _ appreciate _ the involvement of the host families and employers who are usually very welcoming." Dwyer has met several pastâ€"participants on return visits to Ireland and says, "It‘s nice to hear people havâ€" ing fond memories of their time here, and they might look back and appreciate their involvement. It makes my job worthwhile." \In contrast to Dwyer, Julie Baxter is enjoying her first year as project supervisor. By Conor McCarrrRey For the Chronicle INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED, BROKER Eo |j)[01.0 U U ROYAL LEPAGE Do i)i) )11 11111 SCHARF REALT Y 5(01 WESTMOUNT RD N. WATERLOO 2040 She supervised the preparaâ€" tion phase at ‘Prospects‘ in Belfast and is now spending eight weeks at the CODA affice dealing with paperâ€" work, liaising with employâ€" ers and dealing with any problems that may arise. She also helps organize group events, which have included bowling, rollerâ€" skating and even rollercoastâ€" ering. She says these evening events and day trips are important in keeping the group in contact. Suzanne Hamitton (front) is participanting in a work placeâ€" ment at the City of Waterloo under the supervision of herâ€" itage associate Anne Chafe. "I know some people may look at the itinerary and cringe at the idea of rollerâ€" skating, but we all soon get into the spirit of things, and nobody‘s too cool to try anyâ€" thing," Baxter says. "It‘s also a good way for us all to keep track of _ each â€" other‘s progress, and it helps if any grievances within the group are shared in an informal environment." A weekly training allowance is provided by Prospects in Belfast and Ballymun job centre in Dublin. Food and accomâ€" modation is generously proâ€" LIFESTYLE For all your real estate needs call Royal LePage vided by host families in the Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo _ area. Trainees receive free unlimâ€" ited travel within the Grand River Transit system, as well as day trips to Niagara Falls, Paramount Canada‘s Wonderland and Toronto. Twentyâ€"yearâ€"old Suzanne Hamilton, from Holywood, near Belfast, heard about ‘Prospects‘ from a friend who had benefited from a previous course. "My friend went to Florida after a customer serâ€" vice course, but the enterâ€" prise we are on . is ‘Businesswise, and 1 was really keen to gain experiâ€" ence in advertising and pubâ€" lic relations, generally dealâ€" ing with people," she said. She is lucky in the fact that she was granted her firstâ€"choice work placement, as promotional assistant in the City of Waterloo‘s herâ€" itage resources section of the recreation _ and _ leisure department. Her job duties include marketing and proâ€" motion, writing press releasâ€" es and flyers, public service announcements, as well as "The Name Friends Recommend" doing research on forthâ€" coming special events and exhibitions. Anne Chafe is heritage associate at the City of Waterloo, and will be Hamilton‘s supervisor for eight weeks. She explains their task as "making people realize that we have a herâ€" itage collection with artifact exhibitions all over the city, but how do we let the comâ€" munity know that an exhibiâ€" tion is taking place? There‘s a lot of research that goes on before an exhibition, and there‘s a lot of work getting sponsorship and staff." This is Hamilton‘s first experience of working overâ€" seas. But she is settling well in her placement. "I was a bit worried about the different working enviâ€" ronment, but I‘ve received a warm welcome, and I‘m picking up new skills every day," she says. "I keep a diary every day for future referâ€" ence, because when I return to Ireland 1 would like to pursue fullâ€"time employâ€" ment or training in this line of work." She also holds her host family in high regard, an opinion which other group members share about their own host families‘ welcome. "Melanie is originally from Dublin, which was a good icebreaker," Hamilton says. "My host family also participates in social events with trainees, and they‘re very friendly. They have allowed me to fit in well." This is just one example of the satisfaction that many of the Irish visitors have felt during their first two weeks in Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo. Irish people are renowned for givâ€" ing a good welcome, but the people in this city have proved that they belong in these ranks as well. Conor McCaffrey is a participant in the Wider Horizons program, and is spending an eightâ€"week work placement as a journalist at the Waterloo Chromicle. There are a number of opportunities available this summer through the Volunteer Action Centre. Relay for Life is a celebration of cancer survivors and a tribute to the life of loved ones. During this event, teams of 10 to 12 people set up camp and take turns walking or running around the track at the Waterloo Regional Police Recreation Centre for 12 hours starting at 7 p.m. June 15. The Canadian Cancer Society is looking for volunâ€" teers to help with a number of tasks beginning at noon, and ending 24 hours later. You can help with setâ€"up or tearâ€"down, team registration, relay lap counting, enterâ€" tainment, luminary production and setâ€"up, refreshâ€" ments, and even as a photographer‘s assistant. Some volunteers are also needed the evenings of June 13â€"14. Parkwood Mennonite Home in Waterloo has volunâ€" teer opportunities with for those interested in working at the refreshment cart, as a nursing department assisâ€" tant or as a tea server. Refreshment cart volunteers are the friendly people who deliver juice and a smile to residents of the nursing home. They spend two hours a week in the morning, afternoon or evening on the day of the week that suits them best. Nursing department assistants are volunteers who organize cupboards, label items, tidy residents‘ dresser drawers and help keep the department neat. _ â€" Volunteers also serve tea at 3 p.m. to residents and their friends and family. â€" s â€" And finally, arthritis research is possible because volâ€" unteers across Canada join in the annual September campaign. Locally, volunteers give a few hours of their time in September and help as ward chairs or as canâ€" vassers. Volunteer canvassers go doorâ€"toâ€"door collecting donations. These volunteers make a difference in the lives of those with arthritis by making sure that there are the financial resources available to do important research. Those interested in any of the above opportunities can call 742â€"8610. R:surrection Catholic secondary school is presenting Charity Fashion Gala, June 7 at 7 p.m. The show will feature student designers as well as fashions from local retailers including Cadence, Boardwalk, 360, Revival, Unique Boutique, Earthwinds, Winners and Nocce. The fashion show will focus on ethics in fashion and the beauty industries. A speaker from the Global Community Centre will explain how sweatshops and unethical labour practices are frequently used in the manufacturing of clothing and accessories. A petition to improve public disclosure about how and where clothes are produced will be passed around. There will also be a display that will raise the awareâ€" ness of animal testing in the cosmetics and hair product industry, and their will be makeâ€"up demonstrations. All proceeds will benefit the Free the Children camâ€" paign, and all clothing will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Tickets are $5 with a donation of used clothing, or $7 without. Schart Realty, Ted Scharf, Broker Resurrection school hosts charity fashion gala _ Volunteers needed & JE Ask tor details Northfleid WATERLOO NORTH in w'“" Parkway IIIA-:A'A-I 7A6â€"1666 0% FINANCING