Africa Centre’s job skills program gets $1.3M boost
When Alice Achola first came to Edmonton from Uganda in 2015, despite littering the town with her resumés and showing up for multiple interviews, she couldn’t secure a job.
That’s when she reached out to the Africa Centre, and enrolled in their Skills Link Pathways to Success program.
“It opened doors for me,” said Achola, 25, crediting programs that improved her communications skills, resume writing abilities and interview strategies with helping her find a job.
Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal MP for Edmonton-Mill Woods and federal minister of infrastructure and communities — on behalf of Patty Hajdu, federal minister of employment, workforce development and labour — announced $1.3 million in federal funds to expand the program Thursday.
“I am proud to say there will be another 84 Edmonton young people who will benefit from this investment of $1.3 million to allow them to develop the skills that their employers need, freshen up their resume and be gainfully employed,” Sohi said at an announcement at the Africa Centre at 6770 129 Ave.
“This is about making a difference in people’s lives; this is about making a difference in a young Canadian’s life, giving them an opportunity to succeed.”
Sohi said Alberta’s youth unemployment rate is nearly double the national average, with many youth caught in a cycle of not having enough work experience to get a job, and therefore being unable to gain any meaningful work experience.
“By investing in jobs skills training and meaningful work experience for youth, we can have the next generation prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” Sohi said.
John Gaye, chair of the Africa Centre, said this investment will allow them to continue their efforts to ensure youth of African decent — especially those new to Canada — are meaningfully involved socially and economically in every aspect Canadian society.
“There will be more students, youth, that will have the opportunity to get into the labour force here,” said Gaye.
The Skills Link Pathways to Success program started last year with support from Service Canada. This funding will allow the Africa Centre to expand their services from serving 12 youth at a time to 84.
“We are looking forward to more students benefiting from it,” Gaye said.
Sohi said the investment in the Africa Centre is part of more than $300 million in federal funding for job training through the Canada Summer Jobs program, expanded funding that Sohi credited with creating 65,000 job opportunities for young Canadians last year, doubling the number created in the year prior.