Young adults in the Okanagan are now one-step closer to being connected with potential employers thanks to a generous $60,000 donation from the RBC Foundation to the YMCA Connects program. YMCA Connects assists young adults between the ages of 18 to 24 to find meaningful and sustainable employment by providing professional development and refining skills to be successful in today’s workforce. This free service, operated by the YMCA of Southern Interior BC, helps young adults who are currently unemployed or below skill level to learn the vital skills necessary to find, keep, and enhance their personal development, education and employment.
“The continued funding provided by RBC Foundation to the YMCA Connects program will allow us to bridge the gap in the final step of the journey for our youth and young adults by ensuring that they are connected with employers in the community and are able to secure a job or career,” says Cassandra Thomas, General Manager, Community Programs Division. “Now, more than ever, it is important to remove barriers and provide access for young people to learn skills, gain valuable work experience, share knowledge and increase mental wellbeing for the future of work.”
RBC Future Launch is a 10-year, $500 million commitment to empowering Canadian youth to build meaningful careers. With a focus on networking, skills development and experience, the initiative aims to help solve the problems facing young people due to the changing landscape of the workplace.
“We’re excited to be working with YMCA of Southern Interior BC to deliver on the promise of RBC Future Launch,” says Ray Warren, Vice President – Commercial Financial Services, Okanagan & Kootenays, RBC. “RBC Future Launch is a decade-long commitment to help Canadian youth prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. We are committed to acting as a catalyst for change, bringing government, educators, public sector and not-for-profits together to co-create solutions to help young people better prepare for the future of the work through ‘human skills’ development, networking and work experience.”
The YMCA of Southern Interior BC has provided local employment services for over 20 years. Programs are tailored for every individual’s unique circumstance and are free of charge to qualified participants. Learn more about the program here.