A Mentorship Program for Schools
Seven schools in Southwest Horizon School Division are participating in the Skills Link program. Commonly known as the Mentorship Program, this program places mentors in schools to help at-risk students to improve their academic achievement and to achieve greater success. For their part, the mentors are provided with career and personal development skills to assist them on the path to a successful career.
Mentors are young adults who are of 18 to 29 years of age and who have unrealized potential and are currently unemployed or underemployed. They become employees of the school and work under the direction of the principal or designate. The at-risk students that they mentor are 6 to 17 year olds who need assistance with literacy/numeracy or who just need a big sister or brother who can offer guidance.
The program will run from October 2008 until June 2009 and mentors have worked with at-risk students in Wawanesa, Deloraine Elementary, Deloraine Collegiate, Newdale Colony, Maple Grove Colony, Hartney School and Souris School .
The program is funded by and is a joint venture of Southwest Horizon School Division, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Manitoba Advanced Education and Training. In addition, assistance is also being provided by Prairie Skills Training Centre of Deloraine. The project is already proving to be a very positive experience for all involved and, although there are no guarantees of continued funding for the following year and beyond, it is hoped that the project will continue.
Persons wishing further information should contact either of the two program managers, Bob Bell or Lloyd Paulson, at the addresses below.
Bob Bell
Tel: (204) 522-3952 or 522-5299
Or
Lloyd Paulson
Tel: (204) 761-3805
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