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I A iia en a Sl iss SSR a UR lian ER ei Li ir SS UWE J Se ae 2 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, August 9,1994 "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" Summer jobs boost youths' confidence By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star One month ago 16-year-old Mike Raines, of Port Perry, felt his low self-confidence made finding a job a hopeless situa- tion." Last week the local teen was approaching prospective employers. He credits his change in atti- tude to the YMCA sponsored Summer Start program, which arranged a summer job for him at Circular Sounds in Port Perry. = "The program is great and has helped me alot," he said. The Grade 11 Port Perry High School student is a drummer in a band and plans to attend uni- versity to study music, which makes Circular Sounds the per- fect work environment for Mike. The Summer Start program, sponsored locally by the YMCA, and funded by the Federal Gov- ernment, is a stay in school in- centive program. Local schools send appropriate lists of candi- dates, who are at risk to drop out of school, to the co- ordinators. Locally 10 students were selected to take part in the program. The program teaches the stu- dents valuable life, social and job skills, while giving them an opportunity to gain work expe- rience and experience dealing with the public, according to co- co-ordinators Ann-Marie Henry and Joanne Aru. The program worked won- ders for Mike in more ways than one. Both his current employer Richard Jones and the Summer Start co-ordinators say there has been a huge change in Mike since he began in the program. But, most importantly, Mike sees the change in himself and he likes it. "Anyone who is thinking of quitting school, shouldn't. In- stead they should get into a pro- gram like this. It will help. And, if you have low confidence some- thing like this will help too," 0 Over 400,000 graduates recommend Young Drivers of Canada Call for details 852-9705 Mike said. Mr. Jones calls the Summer Start program "well organized" and although it is a lot of work for employers showing the stu- dents the ropes, he knows the benefits of it. Times are tough for students trying to find jobs, and he knows their dilemma. Although he has taken part in this program other years, Mr. Jones said this year he has no- ticed a huge difference in his employee. "His confidence has come quite a way since he first started here. The objective was to have him able to run the store by him- self and he has done that," he added. Mr. Jones is using the pro- gram to its fullest, both for him- self and for his summer help. "It is my intention that he would benefit from this pro- gram and sowould I." While he said it would be easy to just assign cleaning duties und basic chores, he said he wanted to have Mike learn something from the experience and felt he has. The program has shown Mike how to handle himself in the working world. "I wanted to do this program. I felt is was hopeless to get a job because I just couldn't see my- self approaching an employer. Now I can and I see that it isn't hopeless," he said. Students work up to 24 hours a week under the Summer Start program and take part in work- shops and recreational activi- ties the remainder of the week. The students, all aged 14-16 work from June 27-August 12. Although the co-ordinators try to arrange a mutual interest job for the student, it is not always easy. They acknowledge the program would not exist with- out the support of local employ- ers. "We appreciate and are grate- ful to the employers," Miss Hen- ry said. The only part of the program the co-ordinators wish they Mike Raines' job at Circular Sounds was arranged through the YMCA's Summer Start program. The Port Perry youth has gained self confidence through the program. : could change is the number of students involved. The co-ordinators had to file through more than 50 applica- tions and cut the list to 10, which they called an "incredibly difficult decision." But, the group they did come OF USED TOOLS Come «££ ; Joi Us saat YARD SALE. & EQUIPMENT up with is a "dynamic mix." There are students who have low self-esteem and those born to be leaders. The mix, accord- ing to the co-ordinators, mustbe there. If everyone in the pro- gram had the same problems or - the same personalities "it just would not work." ) H 1994 ok, jh: sige ¥ a cer SAVE) HOTDOGS AVAILABLE 4 Satuardny, Aunngcust 1th 7:00am 6:00pm | Visit Us Year Round Open Saturdays & Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 1540 Hwy. 7A, West, « 985-8424 (just west of the Beer Store) a > PORT PERRY *FREE Parking *FREE Admission "FREE Balloons Over 17,000 square feet of great bargains. Antiques, craft and craft supplies, collectibles, new and used items. 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