Youth WISE (Work Initiative Skills for Employment) opened its doors in Havelock on February 23, 2004.
Recognizing that it's not just the urban young people who often need help and those from the rural areas often have no way of getting to our programs in the city, we developed a new skills program called Youth WISE.
Under the capable direction of Phil Higgins, a resident of Havelock, ten local youths have been recruited into this newest program. All of these young people are out of school and unemployed. Phil and our team of professional skills "coaches" will be preparing them for their lives ahead. Over the next months, each will be given essential training in workplace safety, first-aid and valuable construction skills. Through their own personal initiative, each will be put in touch with one of our community partners. They will plan and complete a construction or renovation project which will benefit the residents of the village.

Our local, not-for-profit partners include the Hucklebug Pre-School, Lions and Rotary clubs, township council, the Legion, Hometown Learning Centre, Havelock & District Snowmobile Club, the Chamber of Commerce, Havelock Pentecostal and Norwood United Churches, Country Roots and the H.B.M. Community Policing Committee.
With funding from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, program participants will learn and apply both important skills and valuable work experience to include in their personal résumés. Each of the young people will be paid a weekly wage and, upon successful completion of the six-month program, will receive a substantial bonus. Youth WISE will fill a niche where funds or manpower may presently be lacking in order to complete projects that will directly benefit the community.