YouthForce: More Than Landscaping
YouthForce isn’t just “yard work” it’s a social enterprise dedicated to helping young people grow into leaders. We provide training and certifications to ensure they’re job-ready, confident and empowered! Our partnership with Waterloo Region clients we acquire throughout the year allows our team to spend their days in the community.
This Summer’s Highlights
This has been one of our best seasons yet! We were excited to welcome Josh Medeiros as our new YouthForce Summer Coordinator. He has done an amazing job mentoring and guiding our supervisors, helping them lead their teams effectively.
We had three teams working in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge. Despite the summer heat they diligently worked through their projects by clearing weeds, digging flower beds, and transforming community spaces. Their efforts have made a tangible difference in morale, confidence and appreciation for the places in which we live.
What makes YouthForce special are the little moments, like popsicle breaks and birthday celebrations with clients. These moments build a sense of community and belonging that will not be forgotten.
Training and Support
Amie Sider, our YouthForce Manager, is dedicated to providing staff with essential training and certifications. In her 3 years at YouthForce, this is the first summer they completed five certifications, including First Aid & CPR, SoftSkills Solutions, WHMIS, AODA, and Learning Success Program certification and other technical gardening classes. Thanks to our generous funders, they received uniforms, work boots, tools, safety equipment, and Grand River Transit bus passes at no cost. This tremendous support has helped them overcome barriers and excel.
At graduation, Gabriela O-C. shared her heartfelt story. Born in Colombia, she moved to the USA at 15 and later came to Canada with her family as refugees. Her years in Canada were faced with many financial strains and emotional challenges. After applying to many low entry jobs and receiving little to no interviews she stumbled across a Kinbridge Job Fair with Newcomer Employment. When she walked in, she was met with staff that led her to YouthForce and an on-the-spot interview. YouthForce gave her a chance at employment and enrichment to set her up for success in the future!
Now, she is confidently moving on to more opportunities.
Shoaib K., a YouthForce supervisor was inspired by his experience in housing in Etobicoke to join YouthForce and give back to the communities that helped raise him. He left each worksite with a feeling of fulfilment knowing his teams’ work was building belonging and connection to his older adult neighbours and clients experiencing disabilities. To beautify their home was a privilege and experience he won’t forget.
“YouthForce provided us with confidence in our abilities”
Namrata N., a recent high school graduate believes, “If there had been a program like YouthForce while [she] was living in Nova Scotia it would have made living in housing a lot easier for [her] family”. Namrata was referred to YouthForce by a student support worker at Camino. She has been able to lead projects and apply for grants that will support her future endeavors.
Gabriela, Shoaib and Namrata are only three of the incredible success stories from this summer with YouthForce. We want to thank every YouthForce member, funder, sponsor and partnership that have poured out their time and resources to make a lasting impact in our team and our communities.
If stories like these have moved you, consider partnering with YouthForce!
You can follow YouthForce on social media to stay up to date! @YouthForce
Here’s a short highlight video of our amazing year:
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Join us in congratulating 24 YouthForce staff that have graduated from our summer season! Your future is bright and we are proud of the work you have done in our neighbourhoods. Thank you for supporting YouthForce and attending this graduation ceremony.