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4. PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 23, 1996 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" New program aims to boost 'employability Becky Watson (seated) and Laurie Dale are among several people who are enrolled in a Youth Internship Program, which officially began yesterday at Port Perry High School. The pilot project, for which federal funding was obtained, aims to prepare students for the job market by touching on several fundamentals of employability. It's about creating op- portunity. A new program for ma- ture students at Port Perry High School is de- signed to equip those en- rolled with the "employa- bility" skills theyll need as they make the often dif- ficult transition from school days to a working life. The federally funded program, designed and proposed by staff at the lo- cal high school, is open to anyone in Durham gion between the ages of 17 and 24 who is classed as a graduate, or a drop-out. And those collecting Em- ployment Insurance bene- fits as well. The Youth Internship Program will concentrate on a number of facets with the ultimate goal of help- ing students bridge the gap between school and a career, said Cindy Cole, a youth counselor at the school. "It's basically to address employment skills, entre- preneurial skills, and to do bap teva 2 Questig |] i s on grief recovery" 0. I'm so absent-minded since my husband died. It seems I can't remember a thing anymore. What causes this? Me Dervmott-FPanalaken Chapel MYLES G O'RIORDAN inti TN Res: 985-0608 985-2171 Dependable Service to the Community Since 1846 Leaming how to cope with grief A. When a crisis befalls us, our mental and emotional resources are flooded with a constant stream of thoughts, anxieties, fears and uncertainties. We are trying to find logical mental processes to deal with the changes in our lives caused by the loss. Eventually, we'll sort it all out and arrive at ways to begin problem-solving, When this occurs, we will find that our efforts to concentrate soon return. *(Questions from bereavement classes are answered here by the editor of Afterl.oss, the monthly grief-recovery help letter. For your free copy of AfterLoss or one of our other helpful booklets dealing with grief recovery, just call or stop by. WAGG FUNERAL HOME LTD. job shadowing," she said. Students working toward diplomas can gain four high school credits, while others will benefit from training in computer skills, employability skills, personal manage- ment, and team work and academic skills. Ms Cole said the goal of the program is to create a class of young people who will emerge armed with the skills and attitudes they need to become de- pendable, competent em- ployees. Success of the program will rely in part on the par- ticipation of local busi- nesses, who will be called upon to take in students for job shadowing exercis- es; the benefit to the com- munity at large, said Ms Cole, will be the creation of a skilled and competent work force. "Employers are seeing a lot of kids come out (of school) who don't have high employability skills," she said. "They don't know how to be good employ- ees.' Among those who have already signed up for posi- tions in the program -- up to 30 people will be accept- ed -- are Laurie Dale, 19, and 20-year-old Becky Watson. Ms Dale is a Grade 12 grad, but said she's had a difficult time finding meaningful em- ployment in Port Perry. Jes a small town to work n," she said. "There's not a lot to do. This program opens a lot of doors for me." Ms Watson, meanwhile, hopes that in addition to the employability skills she'll gain, she can work toward collecting the cred- its she needs to earn a high school diploma. She's unsure of what career path she might follow -- she's already been putting program computers to use to determing an area of in- terest -- but feels any training she can get now is a step in the right direc- tion as she contemplates the rest of her life. "I think this program will be a great help," she said. For her part, Ms Dale is hoping to "have a brighter outlook on the workforce" as a result of her participa- tion. "I hope it works," she said. "I know what it's like to get stuck; I know what it's like for somebody to be on their own and not have ajob." Registration for the pro- gram, which will eventual- ly be based in an office on Scugog St. in Port Perry, began yesterday. For more information, call Ms Cole at 985-7337. do MUSIGIANS de & FRIENDS OF MUSIC!!! HORIZONS Restaurant & Patio presents... 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