As the school year approaches, JABC (Junior Achievement British Columbia) is looking for qualified mentors in Kimberley, Cranbrook and the surrounding area to help deliver programs for local youth.
JABC partners with local business owners and professionals to deliver a suite of in-school programs that are free for educators and linked to BC curriculum. The programs are expanding and demand from teachers is steadily growing but there are a shortage of volunteers to deliver them.
“The problem that we are facing right now is that schools are desiring more and more programs but we don’t have enough qualified volunteers to serve them,” said Alanna Tynan, program coordinator. “Volunteers are only required to dedicate a couple of hours of their time and the impact has been proven to go great lengths for local youth.”
Programs will run in 56 out of 60 B.C. school districts, so volunteers are required in almost every community.
“We have always had trouble finding a strong base of a volunteers in Cranbrook and Kimberley and we hope that this year will be different,” said Tynan.
She adds that volunteers ome from all different backgrounds and they make the programs unique, applicable and relatable to students.
“We even have university students presenting the programs, in addition to business professionals and entreprenuers. We all have trials and tribulations to share from our career paths and these are the real life experiences that inspire and enrich students on their own journeys,” said Tynan.
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JABC programs are designed around three pillars: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
“These subjects aren’t always part of the regular school curriculum,” said Tynan. “We believe these are important skills for all children to learn to succeed in today’s global economy. JA focuses on 21st century skills which include things like communication, collaboration and leadership.”
Volunteers are given a package that includes a PowerPoint template for them to follow and corresponding workbooks and interactive games for each student. They prepare before going into the classroom and are supported by the program coordinator.
The programs can be condensed into a couple of short classroom visits or run over a series of four weeks for one hour each visit. It depends on the needs of the teacher and volunteer.
“One thing that was worked really well for us in the past has been to partner with businesses that send their employees as representatives on work time,” Tynan said. “Presenters often love to work in tandem and this can make for a great experience for everyone involved while doubling as team building for a local business’ employees.”
If you are interesting in becoming a volunteer contact Tynan at Alanna.Tynan@JABC.org for more information.
