Teens at work
Hard working teens doing odd jobs in Evangeline area
Hard Workers Youth Services Co-op connects teens with jobs.
The 10 teenaged members of the Hard Workers Youth Services Co-op are taking on all kinds of odd jobs to help out people, organizations and businesses in the Evangeline region this summer. The 2018 edition of the co-op has members constructing picnic tables and park benches, mowing lawns, babysitting, washing cars, painting fences, weeding gardens, bringing in firewood and doing housework, all for a reasonable rate. The Young Hard Workers, all bilingual and aged 12 to 15 years, are still seeking work contracts for short durations, either for a few hours, a few days or even a few weeks. These work contracts give the youth an opportunity to learn how to undertake responsibilities, gain work experience and earn a bit of pocket money. Those wishing to get a free estimate or to place a work order are asked to call 902-854-2975 (carpentry workshop) anytime Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., or send an email one of the co-ordinators: Mélanie Arsenault (melanie@rdeeipe.org) or Makenzie Hayes (makenzie@ rdeeipe.org). Again this year, some of the co-ordinators participated in a week-long training session in Shippagan, N.B., where they learned all about the establishment and management of youth services co-ops. The co-ordinators then returned to P.E.I. to recruit participants. In turn, they delivered training on the management of boards of directors and co-ops to the young Island workers. At their first board meeting, the youth elected an executive committee: president Brant Arsenault, vice-president Brady Corkum, secretary Taia Gallant and treasurer Keanah Arsenault. These four, along with their six fellow workers – Jackson Arsenault, Kadyn Arsenault, John Isaac Montgomery, Jaden McInnis, Tyson Short and Jake Gallant – also formed marketing, human resources and finance committees. A portion of their income goes to the co-op to cover its expenses. At the end of the season, the youth will decide whether to put aside a portion of their coop’s profits to ensure a start-up fund for next year and/or pay themselves a rebate, based on the number of hours they put in. Thanks to an agreement negotiated with the French Language School Board, the co-op has access to the school workshops at Evangeline School for its construction projects. This year, to raise funds to pay for administrative expenses, the co-op organized a lottery. The first prize is a $100 park bench they built. Second prize is a weekend pass (minus dances) to the Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival worth $25, and a book by Georges Arsenault on the history of the exhibition, called “Cent ans de succès.” Third prize is a $10 gift card from Wellington Esso and a bag of promotional items from Evangeline-Central Credit Union. Tickets are $5 each. The draw will be held Aug. 15 during the National Acadian Holiday festivities at the Acadian Musical Village in Abram-Village.