Advanced Education and Skills
December 20, 2013

Province Continues to Support Organizations That Help Youth Succeed

New Investment of $95,000 for Service Agreements for Youth

Recognizing that education is a proven path to prosperity, the Provincial Government is supporting five community organizations with $95,000 in funding to enhance educational resources for young people in communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. To date, $606,243 has been provided through the Service Agreements for Youth program in 2013 to support youth on a path to success in education and employment.

“This year, over 3,000 young women and men will participate in Service Agreements for Youth programs throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. These programs are helping improve literacy and numeracy levels and are also encouraging students to stay in school and transition through post-secondary education into employment.”
- The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills

The latest round of Service Agreements for Youth program funding is providing support for the following projects:

• $15,000 to the Westrock Community Centre in Corner Brook to provide homework help for students and provide children/youth and their families with opportunities for successful learning.
• $13,750 to the Smallwood Crescent Community Centre in Marystown to support their Homework Haven, which serves school-aged youth from social housing areas and children of low income families in the area.
• $7,000 to the Exploits Community Centre to enhance tutoring services and strengthen a positive learning environment for youth and children in both Grand Falls-Windsor and Bishop’s Falls.
• $8,250 to the Baynet Community Youth Network to support their Homework Haven for youth and children in the Bonavista and Catalina areas.
• $30,000 to the Community Centre Alliance in St. John’s to help community centres run their Homework Haven program for K-12 students.
• $21,000 grant to the Community Centre Alliance for their Youth Achieve program to help youth overcome academic difficulties and help them graduate.

For more information on 2013 Service Agreements for Youth approved projects please visit: www.aes.gov.nl.ca/students/default.html#youth 

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

• To date, $606,243 has been provided through the Service Agreements for Youth program in 2013 to support youth on a path to success in education and employment.
• Today, more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are working than ever before.
• Newfoundland and Labrador is celebrating its best ever high school graduation rate, with 94.2 per cent of graduates earning a diploma for the 2012-13 school year.
• The Provincial Government is leading the way in making post-secondary education affordable and accessible. In fact, post-secondary education students in Newfoundland and Labrador continue to have the lowest average tuition fees ($2,644 per year).
• The Provincial Government’s approach to preventing, reducing, and alleviating poverty is working. Today, Newfoundland and Labrador is widely regarded by national advocates as a leader in the fight against poverty.

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Advanced Education and Skills
709-729-0753, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca 

2013 12 20             11:55 a.m.