Summer of growth
Program offers youth ‘One of the best summer’s I’ve ever had’
One might say this summer’s program came off ‘seam’lessly. This week, the East Prince Youth Development Centre Skills Enhancement and Mentoring Program (SEAM), wrapped up a successful summer curriculum. East Prince Youth Development Centre is a non-profit organization located in the Holland College Waterfront Campus. Usually, the centre works with youth who are finished high school, but, for the last two years, they have put on a program for students still in school.
One might say this summer’s program came off ‘seam’lessly. This week, the East Prince Youth Development Centre Skills Enhancement and Mentoring Program (SEAM), wrapped up a successful summer curriculum. East Prince Youth Development Centre is a non-profit organization located in the Holland College Waterfront Campus.
Usually, the centre works with youth who are finished high school, but, for the last two years, they have put on a program for students still in school. The program, Skills Enhancement and Mentoring Program (SEAM), was developed for Grade 10 and 11 students. Ten participants were chosen this year on based on those who could best use the opportunity to gain valuable life skills and work experience.
The program exists to assist youth who may have life challenges such as low self-esteem, requiring support with coping mechanisms or low income. “The program helps them realize that they can be very successful despite their current life circumstances, said Barb Broome, executive director of the centre.
The goal of the seven-weeklong program was to support the transition from high school to their next step in life,
whether that be post-secondary education, entrepreneurship, or straight into the workforce. The program “aids in poverty reduction and also to help boost their confidence,” said Broome. Team leader and mentor Tyler Harris came from a low-income family himself, and knows what the product of hard work looks like.
The fourth-year university student helped teach the youth that with hard work and determination, the sky is the limit. Damien Cameron, one of 10
students taking part in the program and class spokesperson, loved how the program increased self-esteem and gave a fun twist on the otherwise traditional learning experience. “We were never told about the friendships we would create along the way,” said Cameron. Volunteering, classwork and work experience through job shadowing, the youth had their toes in just about everything this summer, including the Summerside Harbour as they pushed their comfort zones on
the Splash park.
“The program offers opportunities to work in diverse environments, different work placements, and the chance to do things we have not done before.”
All 10 of the participants agreed that it’s a worthwhile program that they’d like to see continue next year.
“It was by far one of the best summers I’ve ever had,” said Eli Skrastins, one of the program participants.