Inspire Youth Program
An initiative of the Kanata Lakes Community Association (KLCA)
The Kanata Lakes Community Association is teaming up with many organizations to launch a new program aimed at engaging high-school-aged youth and older in career discovery and soft skills
development.
Learn more about the program below, including opportunities to participate in career discovery sessions as well as for information for local professionals who want to make a difference by sharing their own career pathway with students.
Why Inspire?
Navigating high school can be daunting.
High school is an important time in every young person’s life in which a host of decisions are made that impact future options. They frequently include what courses to take, what kind of curricular activities to sign up for, even what kind of summer job to look for. Navigating these choices can be daunting. Even students who already have a particular career in mind may wonder: “what is that career really like, and what does it take to be successful?”
We believe that every adult professional in our community has an important role to play to mentor, teach and inspire the
next generation. We believe many professionals are looking for ways in give back and contribute to building the next generation.
We are looking for volunteers to devote a few hours of their week to make a difference in the lives of young people in our community. Kanata is home to a wide variety of highly-educated professionals and tradespeople who have much to share in terms of their knowledge and personal experience.
Our youth want to learn more about many well-known occupations including accounting, law, project management, engineering,
marketing, and medicine, as well as occupations that may be lesser known but in high demand. Inspire is your opportunity to share your knowledge and career experience with a group of young people who are embarking on some big choices for the first time.
What is Inspire?
The Inspire program aims at providing a space where students can discover more about careers they may have in mind as well as learn about careers they may never before have considered. The program also offers opportunities to learn more about soft skills, which are essential to success in any career.
Promoting Soft Skills
Soft skills includes such essential skills as: effective communication, organization and time management skills, as well as interpersonal skills and relationship building. While many people think of soft-skills as innate, they are all skills that can be taught. Unfortunately,
while high schools and post-secondary institutions focus on teaching academics, direct instruction on soft skills is often lacking. Indeed employers frequently lament a lack of “soft skills” among new graduates. These skills are important no matter what career path the student decides to take.
Career discovery
While high school youth may not necessarily need to have decided on a particular career, learning more about the various career paths available can be a very enriching and motivating experience; a way
of connecting what they learn in school to real life. For others who may have a particular career in mind, learning more about a potential career from an individual who is able to share their personal experiences in navigating their own path can be eye-opening. We believe many young people can benefit from this experience.
Who is Inspire for?
The program is aimed at high-school students, young entrepreneurs and other youth (18-24 years) who are seeking information on career pathways.
How to sign up?
While the program is just getting started, the following two initiatives are being planned for Spring/Summer 2019:
1) Public speaking and effectivecommunications – in partnership with the Christopher Leadership Course, KLCA is organizing public speaking for high school students in Kanata. The
first of these sessions, which combines in-person learning with personal coaching will be offered in May 2019. Please sign up here:
Ottawa Ontario – Public Speaking Essentials
2) Career Discovery Workshops – KLCA
will be inviting professionals from a variety of fields to participate in a series of career discovery workshops.
The workshops will allow youth to learn about a variety of career paths: traditional and non-traditional, professional and the skilled trades, as well as ask questions.
If you are a youth or parent interested in attending one of our future sessions, or if you are a professional or skilled tradesperson interested in sharing your career experience with us please contact
us at: [email protected]
3.) Partnership with Kanata Carleton Small Business Network Youth Entrepreneurship Program-
Inspire will be collaborating with the recently launched Youth Entrepreneurship Program offered by the KCSBN. Check back here for details.