The Work Experience Program provides supervised work experience for youth between 16 - 29 years of age, who are living on reserve and are out of school and unemployed. It is intended to provide a program understanding environment that will support and encourage youth as they re-establish an educational and career track.

On November 18, 1999 the Saskatchewan Indian Education and Training Commission approved the distribution of the Work Experience Program 1999 - 2000 allocation according to the SIGA formula. This equates to a base amount plus per capita for each First Nation.

Participants

• First Nations Education Coordinators
• Directors of Education

Criteria

The Work Experience Program (WEP) has the following components:

• 6 - 9 month program;
• team work on community service projects;
• individual work placements, or a combination of the two;
• educational/career development activities,
• mentoring/counseling,
• life/work skills development,
• project evaluation and community support;
• learning experiences that will contribute to the growth and self-esteem of the individual;
• personal Career Development Plans

The main objectives of the Work Experience Program are to:

• provide unemployed youth with work opportunities that will give them valuable experience for future employability;
• provide an opportunity for personal development by equipping each participant with an Individual Career Development Plan;
• provide work experience and training skills;
• provide youth with an opportunity to contribute to their communities through work at the local level.

The Work Experience Program is a component of the Federal Government's Youth Initiatives Strategy. This program is funded by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations - Education and Training Secretariat undertook the management of the provincial coordination and administration of the First Nations Youth Work Experience Program.