Sunday, June 06, 2010
City's first symposium attracts hundreds of youths, parents from ethnic communities
BY BILL MAH, EDMONTON JOURNAL
Fourteen-year-old Dilexi Kabalisa dares to "dream big" at a City of Edmonton youth career symposium at the Central Lions Seniors' Centre on Saturday-- Photograph by: Chris Schwarz, The Journal, Edmonton Journal
She enrolled for upgrading courses at an Edmonton post-secondary school where officials put her in an English as a Second Language class.
But 21-year-old Mohammad speaks English fluently.
"I was really shocked. I was like why? I'm not here for that. I need to take the right things for me to get into university. ESL classes are not going to help me get into university."
Mohammad visited the university and "asked so many people how can I get there." She eventually found a counsellor who outlined the requirements she needed.
Her experience as a newcomer struggling to understand a new and complicated system prompted her to volunteer Saturday at the City of Edmonton's first Youth Career Symposium targeted for people who are facing similar challenges.
The event, held at the Central Lions Seniors Centre, is a pilot project intended to inform 14-to 25-year-olds, mostly from Edmonton's recently settled ethnic communities, about possible careers and what they need to get those jobs or to enter post-secondary institutions.
"I want to learn more about getting a part-time summer job and learn more about careers," said Ermin Chow, 15, whose parents emigrated from Hong Kong. "I wanted more information because I couldn't find the information elsewhere."
About 260 youth and 120 parents met with 40 exhibitors including schools, social agencies and civic departments such as police and fire. Participants also heard from experts on volunteering, scholarships and career planning.
To keep the participants engaged, organizers also held soccer matches and yoga classes.
"We targeted the multicultural groups to break down some of the barriers they face in accessing some career opportunities," said Heather McRae, the city's community strategies branch manager.
"Sometimes it's just an understanding of how to access the system, to be able to move through the system and who to contact. So we gathered them all in this room.
It's not a job fair, McRae said. "It's about career pathing."
The idea came out of discussions with some of Edmonton's ethnic communities, who partnered with the city to develop the event.
Abdallah Kulmiye, cultural resource liaison with the Somali Canadian Society of Edmonton said the symposium will help youth learn how to make positive choices in their lives.
"From a Somali community perspective, when you come from refugee camps and you don't have any background in education, it's tough for the kids to compete with their peers here," said Kulmiye.
"If you are placed with Grade 9 students and you've never held a pen in your hand, what are you going to do? The kid will eventually drop out of school.
"We need to tell them of the opportunities available to them so they can take advantage of it."
Source: Edmonton Journal