Each lunch hour at Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School (new window), Aurora would help give hungry elementary students their long-awaited lunches. Working in food preparation in the school cafeteria, she enjoyed serving about 100 lunches twice a week during her part-time work experience placement.
A fellow student herself, she attends the Penticton Indian Band (new window) Adult Education Centre, Aurora now has a good taste of what it takes to succeed in the workplace.
Aurora, who experiences anxiety (new window), came to the Neil Squire Society’s Working Together program through her school. The program allows students like her to gain paid work experience in addition to school credits, which can be a motivating factor to help them stay in school.
When Aurora came to the Working Together program, she had concrete goals in mind — to “control [her] anger issues and help [her] anxiety.”
The fit at Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School was perfect — for both employee and employer.
Teacher, Mary Belcher, who helped Aurora in her work, would recommend the Working Together program, saying that it provided Aurora a great place to develop her social skills.
“It was a steep learning curve for Aurora,” explains Mary. “However, towards the end of the program, Aurora had gained competence and confidence as a Cook Assistant.”
There were benefits for the school too. “Aurora’s presence in the school was as a role model to younger students,” says Mary.
“I’m happy and successful in my life,” shares Aurora, who can now add food preparation to her growing list of skills, and a few new recipes too. Continuing her education, she has the tools and experience to find success.
The Working Together with Employers and Enhancing Employability
program is funded by the Government of Canada’s
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities