Over 9,500 student placements created through youth initiatives Over 9,500 students are working throughout Newfoundland and Labrador this summer as a result of provincial and federal youth initiatives, said Human Resources and Employment Minister Julie Bettney. Approximately 3,850 students are placed in provincially administered summer programs including: Student Work and Services Program (SWASP) - Paid Employment and Community Services; the Conservation Corps Program; and a High School Student Program. An additional 5,700 students are employed under the Summer Career Placement program administered by Human Resources Development Canada.

"These summer programs have created a record number of placements for youth this year," said Ms. Bettney. "The summer programs give community organizations the resources to enlist students to work on valuable projects in their home communities, and it gives the private sector the incentive to hire students for summer work that will hopefully lead to long-term economic development for the province. An independent evaluation of SWASP conducted in 1995 found that 97 per cent of community agencies and 73 per cent of private sector employers would have been unlikely to employ the students without the support provided under SWASP."

This year, the provincial and federal governments contributed $4.5 million to the SWASP, creating 2,337 summer placements for youth. Placements are distributed according to student population. SWASP assists post-secondary students in securing career-related placements, while earning salaries and vouchers to help defray the cost of tuition.

"Providing tuition vouchers to students is an innovative approach to encouraging more students to continue with post-secondary studies and one that participants in the program responded well to," said Ms. Bettney. "According to the evaluation, 87 per cent of the community services participants liked receiving the tuition voucher in lieu of wages, while just four per cent would have preferred to receive wages only."

As part of the SWASP funding, a grant of $310,000 was allocated to Memorial University. This funding is expected to create 167 jobs in career-related fields of study. Memorial University also received $20,000 under the Partnerships in Academic and Career Education and Employment (PACEE) program, which will create 10 additional career- related placements.

Developing home pages on the Internet, repairing computer equipment, tutoring primary and elementary students, and drawing architectural blueprints are just a few examples of the practical and career-related projects offered through the SWASP.

The Conservation Corps Program, in its fifth year, is a youth employment initiative funded by the Department of Human Resources and Employment and delivered in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Conservation Corps. This program has 26 active Green Team projects throughout the province. The goal of the Conservation Corps program is to provide training for youth in environmental enhancement and conservation.

Laura Coish is one of the 635 youths employed by the Conservation Corps Program. She is a Green Team Leader with the Recreation Department of Labrador City and recently completed a diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. "Working with the Conservation Corps gives you the opportunity to work with other young people, put your skills to practical use, gain work experience, and have a fun summer," she said. "I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in the environment or loves the outdoors."

The High School Student Program was introduced this year as a new initiative to provide high school students with employment opportunities to prepare them for post-secondary education. To date, 728 students are working in projects such as guiding tours, researching the history of artifacts in museums, setting up art exhibits in galleries, and assisting with Cabot 500 festivities taking place throughout the province. An evaluation of the High School Student Program will be carried out for this year.

Ms. Bettney said: "The success of these youth programs can be attributed to a partnership approach between governments, community agencies and regional development associations. Government is committed to building upon the strengths of these partnerships to employ even more youth in the future."

Contact: Jill Sooley, (709) 729-4062.