Success is Gaining the Skills to Realize Your Dreams
Eva's Phoenix,Toronto, Ontario helps homeless and at-risk youth with shelter and training in a program unlike any in Canada.
| "In five years, I would like to have my CCIE (Cisco Certified Internet Expert) and perhaps be one of the network guys for the Canadian Armed Forces or another part of the government." - Eric Mercier, Eva's Phoenix graduate |
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Clovis Grant, manager, employment services says they started their first Networking Academy Program in 2002 with ten participants, nine of whom finished. "It was amazing as it was the first year. All the youth were homeless or at risk of homeless-ness. Some had very good computer backgrounds while others didn't, but regardless, their dedication to the Program was fabulous."
Now, three years later, promoted to Managing Director, Grant says, "We just celebrated year three and are undergoing a national initiative which focuses on taking what we've learned at Eva's Phoenix to help other agencies in Canada and internationally develop similar models."
At Eva's Phoenix, the youth are in class for 2 1/2 days per week and in job placements the other 2 1/2 days, but are paid by Human Resource Development Canada as though they are working full time. "They get practical hands-on experience so they can apply their knowledge," Grant says. Youth at Eva's live in townhouse units for up to one year where they learn life skills along with job skills, so they can successfully find employment and live independently. The goal is not just to find a minimum wage, dead end job, but to find something they can become excited about and work towards a career.
Grant speaks proudly of one such career-minded student, Eric Mercier, who was in Eva's first class. Mercier now works for his original placement company but continues to return to Eva's Phoenix to mentor and to help others find work. So, what are Mercier's goals? "In five years, I would like to have my CCIE (Cisco Certified Internet Expert) and perhaps be one of the network guys for the Canadian Armed Forces or another part of the government," he says.
Of other successes, Grant speaks of a high school drop out, who, after completing the Cisco Program, made the decision to go back to school. "It allowed him to see that education was important. And youth, identifying the need for more education is a success too!" Cisco staff members speaking to his students about gaining the skills needed to attain careers in technology helps them build the confidence to realize their dreams.
May 2004
