Youth prepare for the workforce with Ottawa Innercity Ministries’ internship

Janet Mabie
Spur Ottawa Writer

Overcoming employment barriers is a key step to help street-engaged youth turn their lives around. Ottawa Innercity Ministries (OIM) launched a youth internship program to do just that. Started in January 2021 as an outflow of OIM’s Youth Art Program, the internship equips street-engaged youth for the workplace.

The internship program began when OIM hired six people from their youth program to look after some custodial needs in the OIM building. “It was really more than custodial work, it was life skills,” says Ken MacLaren, OIM’s executive director. “You learn to show up on time. You follow your supervisor. You complete a list of tasks. You show respect and courtesy to people—real practical stuff.”

This led OIM to expand the program by connecting with business partners who could hire the interns in the program.

“It wasn’t a full-time job, but it met with overwhelming success,” says MacLaren.

“The workshops and placements give the youth positive job experience with employers who are supportive and understanding of their situation.” Photo courtesy of Ottawa Innercity Ministries.

Youth in the program begin with three pre-placement workshops.

“This is a good, safe training ground for them to pick up some work skills,” explains intern coordinator Kevin Schafer. “They are taught basic skills in communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution. I try to get them to anticipate what could go wrong and to be equipped in how to deal with it if something does go wrong.”

OIM carefully vets the youth to match their interests with the requirements of the business-partner employers. Then the youth receive eight-week placements, where they gain confidence, purpose, and acceptance.

At the end of the placement, the youth attend another three workshops where they learn to write their resume, job search strategies, and interview preparation. Each youth is also assigned a mentor to help them work toward their personal goals.

“The workshops and placements give the youth positive job experience with employers who are supportive and understanding of their situation. It also gives them something to put on a resume,” Schafer says. “We’ve seen some of the kids go on to get full-time employment” with the business where they interned.

“We give them food, friendship, fellowship, and camaraderie. They become young people again, the way they should be.”

One youth did his internship cleaning a martial arts studio. As part of the arrangement, he also got one free class per week.

“When the program ended, he continued in his job relationship,” MacLaren shares. “He told me that he never thought he would ever be able to break out of the pattern of jail, getting out, going to court, jail, getting out, going to court. He thought he would never amount to anything. The program changed his life and gave him hope.”

Another youth did their internship with the Happy Goat Café, where they ended up continuing on with more responsibilities and being called “a shining star”. Another graduate moved to Toronto. She recently came back and donated 12 bags of clothes to OIM, to show her gratitude.

“She told me that she came for the stipend, the money given to participants, but said she got so much more out of the program through the mentorship and connections with mature people,” Schafer says. “She didn’t even realize what was happening.”

The woman is now launching her own art business in Toronto.

“Out on the street, they wear a mask of toughness. They need it to survive,” says MacLaren. “Here, it is safe and warm. We give them food, friendship, fellowship, and camaraderie. They become young people again, the way they should be.”

Schafer notes that OIM is always looking for new employment and mentorship partners for the program.

MacLaren describes working with youth as often challenging, but rewarding at the same time. “Sometimes God kind of reaches over the balcony of heaven and spreads out His hands and says, ‘Here, this one is for you,’ and we get a glimpse of somehow, some part of our input into a life that has been changed for the good.”