Education
August 15, 2008

Young Women�s Abilities and Potential Come to Light at Camp GLOW

The 3rd annual Camp GLOW (Group Learning for Outgoing Women) wrapped up in Stephenville today with 10 young women gaining hands-on knowledge of a career in firefighting. This year, the Provincial Government increased its funding contribution to the camp to $1,500.

"It�s important we seize every opportunity to support initiatives that educate young women about the many career choices they have, especially those that have traditionally been filled by men," said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. "The Women in Resource Development Committee (WRDC) and the Marine Institute are to be commended for creating a tremendous opportunity for young women in our province."

Camp GLOW is a partnership of the WRDC, the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University and the Safety and Emergency Response Training (SERT) Centre in Stephenville. A camp is also held annually at the Offshore Safety and Survival Centre (OSSC) at Foxtrap. The camp is designed to empower and build confidence in young women through teamwork, problem-solving and physical exercise. Participants practice real firefighting activities under the supervision of active female firefighters.

"As a firefighter, it is extremely exciting to have this opportunity to share my experience and skills with these women," said Krista Parsons, an instructor with OSSC and co-ordinator of Camp GLOW. "I would have loved to have had a camp like this when I was deciding my career."

"Camp GLOW is a great week where women meet many challenges, build self-confidence and learn many transferable skills," said Mary Clarke, community outreach co-ordinator with WRDC. "We are thrilled to be part of such a fantastic program."

Special measures undertaken in recent years by the Provincial Government are having a direct impact on raising awareness among women about the increasing opportunities in non-traditional careers.

Since 2004, the number of women registering for apprenticeship programs in non-traditional trades is up by 35 per cent. "We have certainly made it a priority to introduce initiatives that will break down barriers in the skilled trades," said Minister Burke. "After all, women can play a critical role in successfully meeting our province�s labour market needs today and well into the future as we see upcoming mega-projects come to fruition. New initiatives like our $11 million high school Futures in Skilled Trades and Technology program are a great step forward in attracting young people, especially women, to non-traditional jobs. "

Over the past two years, the Provincial Government has allocated an unprecedented $53.8 million in the areas of apprenticeship, science and technology, programming, training and infrastructure, including a $400,000 investment in 2007 for the SERT Centre, where Camp GLOW is held. These investments are ensuring the province�s public post-secondary institutions, College of the North Atlantic and Memorial University, are responsive to the needs of our students and the labour market and are helping to build the province�s skills base.

"It was wonderful to see the young women of Camp GLOW in action today," said Minister Burke. "They challenged themselves and tested their limits with great success and will no doubt take this experience with them in all aspects of their lives."

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Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca

2008 08 15                                                   12:40 p.m.

 


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