E.S.A.P Youth Employment Program

Emergency Services Achievement Program

Job Readiness Skills Development and On-the-Job Work Experience for Priority Youth

Program Description

E.S.A.P. is a career oriented instructional program designed to provide priority youth with job readiness skills development and practical paid work experience. The first five weeks consist of various workshops dealing with job-readiness skills, life saving workshops, self-assessment analysis and other employment workshops. Youth will choose a career area where they will work four days a week, eight hours a day and meet one day a week for four hours with the ESAP coordinator to reflect on the week's work, to problem solve, to listen to various employment related speakers and to participate in various workshops.

The first work term is four months which may be extended to an additional four months at the same worksite or the participant may explore another job placement in a different career area.

Payment is provided by the Government of Canada and is managed by HRM Fire & Emergency Services.

Program Objective

Firefighter, Larry Varin, facilitating WHMIS training workshop

Objectives of E.S.A.P.

Working at Traditional Cabinetry

• Youth will develop basic employability skills necessary to obtain community employment

• Youth will develop positive work relationships with employers and co-workers

• Youth will learn good work ethics through workshops and on-the-job training

• Youth will learn employee rights and responsibilities

• Youth will develop job readiness skills

• Youth will develop life-saving skills through the HRM Fire & Emergency Services

• Youth will develop job-search skills

• Youth will gain the employability skills and self confidence to become productive employees in their community

Criteria for E.S.A.P.

• Applicant must be priority youth (having multiple barriers to employment) and in need of assistance in order to overcome employment barriers *

• Applicants must be between 16 and 30 inclusive at the time of intake/selection *

• Applicants must have a positive desire to work

• Applicants must be case managed by YMOVE (YMCA, Motivation, Vision, Employment)

• Applicants must agree to abide by all conditions of E.S.A.P.

• Applicant must go through an interview process with the E.S.A.P. coordinator

• Applicants must be out of school *

• Applicants must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person on whom refugee status has been conferred *

• Applicants must be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations *

• Applicants must not be in receipt of Employment Insurance (El) benefits *

* These criteria are based on the requirements established by the government of Canada (HRSDC) for Skills Link projects

Benefits to Youth

• Provides self assessment analysis

• Provides life saving skills

• Provides job search skills

• Provides job-readiness skills development

• Provides an opportunity to explore one or two chosen career areas

• Provides valuable paid work experience

• Provides an opportunity to gain employability skills based on the N.S. Essential Employability Skills as well as the Conference Board of Canada Employability Skills 2000+

• Increases self confidence

• Provides opportunities to overcome barriers to employment

Benefits to Employers

• 
  Working at MacPhee Pontiac

  Provides an enthusiastic employee

• Provides an opportunity to select potential full-time I employees

• Assists youth in career decision choices

• Becomes a valuable contributor to the youth in their community

E.S.A.P