by Stacy Dunn
Women’s Network PEI is a non-profit organization that has advocated for women’s equity and inclusion across the province since 1984.
They work with many community partners to strengthen and improve economic opportunities for women. Two programs Women’s Network currently run are Propelle and Trade HERizons, under its Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) project. WEE supports individual women to achieve financial security and transition from poverty to sustainable livelihoods.
About Propelle
Propelle is offered each fall and is a no-cost life skills and job readiness program that builds community connections and employability skills.
This program focuses on:
- Personal development
- Employment readiness
- Career Exploration
- Community engagement
Participants hear from guest speakers, mentors, and employers in various fields and tour Holland College to explore their programs. They are introduced to education opportunities available to them, such as GED and upgrading high school credits. They also learn about the local labour market and job opportunities.
The Propelle program is available to women who:
- are between the ages 22 and 45 and may have experienced limited attachment to the workforce, lack of confidence, limited education, intergenerational poverty, abuse, family violence, mental and physical health challenges, and/or single parents with limited support.
- faced barriers to employment and/or career advancement.
- have a desire and aptitude to work and increase their employability on PEI.
- have lived on PEI for at least three months and are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
- who are on EI, CRB, working 25 hr/wk or less, on social assistance, or have no income.
About Trade HERizons
Trade HERizons takes place from January to April and is a career readiness and college preparation program. The focus is on trades and technology careers and enhancing women’s skills so that they can pursue careers in these fields of work.
Participants meet trades mentors and employers, tour Holland College trades programs and experience hands-on learning. They also enhance their life skills and do labour market research, resumés, interviews, networking, and team building.
The Trade HERizons program is available to women who:
- are between the ages 22 and 45.
- have a grade 12 diploma or GED.
- have an aptitude for careers in trades and technology.
- have lived on PEI for at least three months and are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
- who are on EI, CRB, working 25 hr/wk or less, on social assistance, or have no income.
“Many participants have gone on to apprenticeship, to upgrade their education, and/or to a Holland College program,” says Jill Olscamp, Program Coordinator with Women’s Network PEI.
“We have seen women go on to work as Electricians, Carpenters, Heritage Retrofit Carpenters, Cabinet Makers, Mechanics, Plumbers, Construction Estimators, and Welders. Our participants are working in a variety of trades.”
Participants’ comments
- “I worked seasonal jobs to support my family and realized that wasn’t working out for us. I knew I had to do something different. Being pushed out of my comfort zone was hard, but I appreciate it because I wanted to show my girls that just because others say you can’t, you can say, ‘Just watch me.’”
- “There are people who do well in high school and go to college. Then there was me – I didn’t think it was something I could do. I have always been a quiet follower and here, I learned I can be a leader.”
Funded by the Department of Workforce, Advance Learning and Population through the Canada-PEI Labour Market Agreements.
