The SPCO has been a landing place for over 198 local youths (aged 18-30) looking to transition into meaningful, skilled, and well-compensated employment. To accomplish this, we provide paid training, paid job placements, and follow-ups.
Why Our Program is Different:
- Youth-Centred: We meet youths where they are and provide an environment where they feel in control of their careers and futures.
- Mentorship Strategy: Our unique “Employment Incubator” spaces allow for skills sharing, peer mentorships, career-oriented connections, and entrepreneur skills development in setting where relationships are established on a more equal footing, as opposed to a hierarchical basis.
- Encourage Jobs that Support Progress: We don’t push our youths into just any job. Our goal is to equip youths with the skills and confidence they need to obtain and attain a good, long-term career with opportunities for growth and development.
- Focus on Motivation: We work with closely with youths, using the resources of our social enterprises to harness and cultivate their existing skills, motivating them towards a brighter future.
- Skills and Training: While many employment programs focus on pushing “hard skills” that are teachable and measurable, our team also focuses on developing “soft skills”, which focuses on helping youths, especially newcomers, effectively communicate and become more aware of
cultural norms in Ottawa, so they have a greater chance of succeeding in the workplace. - Building Connections: We connect youth to local community resources to promote healthy and productive social relationships, and to increase access and awareness of support and resources that are available to them.
Our Services
Career-Oriented Training and Mentorship:
paid training
Soft Skills Training: For youths with limited education and English language experience.
Career Development Training:
For youths with post-secondary education who are under-employed.
Paid Job Placements
Youths placed in opportunities relative to skill set, and education level.
Follow-Ups
Youths receive ongoing support through regular meet-ups to receive mentorship, share skills acquired, and reflect on development.
Results
- 109 Received General Employment Support
- 89 Received Training and/or a Paid Work Placement
- 89% of youths who received paid training and paid work placements found employment, and
- 4.9% returned to school. 5.6% remain in training with SPCO.
Programs
The SPCO provides youth a clear path to good employment through training, paid work placements and professional network development. In 2021, we served 172 youth aged 16-30, into first jobs or into career jobs in IT managed services, communications, marketing or social service work. New groups start throughout the year. For more info contact Youth Employment Coordinator, Stella Nakitende at [email protected] or call 613-236-9300
The GenerationeXT Youth Economic Incubator provides peer-to-peer mentorship and bi-weekly meetups where youth support each other around job searching and small business development. Contact Stella Nakitende at [email protected] or [email protected]
Check out our youth social enterprises Hot Shoe Productions, offering high-quality video services at affordable prices for the non-profit sector; and TRAC (Technology, Research, and Communications), supporting non-profits and small businesses through research, marketing, communications and videography services.
The incubators are youth-focused economic development spaces in three low income
neighbourhoods: Ledbury-Albion-Heatherington-Forbes, Forbes and Britannia Woods.
Through training programs and on-going “meet-ups”, young adults learn and share skills, build
an entrepreneurial skillset and create career-oriented connections.
The incubators provide a space for young people to be active change-makers, developing the
skills and connections to advance their own career path, while bringing a fresh perspective to
help drive a more sustainable and inclusive local economy.
We are grateful for the support of The Cooperators.. > Read More