Expanded training program to benefit Aboriginal women

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A training program that had its beginnings in Saskatchewan will now be expanding to provide Aboriginal women from across the country an opportunity to help improve their lives.

The National Aboriginal Women for Tomorrow (AWFT) program was officially launched on Nov. 27. The program consists of a series of workshops designed to empower Aboriginal women by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to participate more fully in their community and in the Canadian economy.

The program was originally developed and piloted in Saskatchewan in 2003 as a project of the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), a non-profit development organization that links volunteer advisors who are experts in their fields with communities or groups that can benefit from their experience.

The idea for developing the AWFT program came from Audrey Ahenakew, a volunteer advisor with CESO who at the time was the organization's regional manager for Saskatchewan.

Ahenakew felt her role could go beyond providing advisory services, expanding to get to the root of the problem of the systemic barriers encountered by Aboriginal women, explained Delia Scribleac, CESO's manager of national programs.

"So she got together with a group of volunteer advisors that we had in Saskatchewan and analyzed, based on her experience, based on her knowledge of a woman's needs. And they said, you know what, this has five areas that would be the most important ones and could help women become a little bit more self-confident and so on. And they got together and they developed five workshops."

The first workshop focuses on building personal skills. Participants learn how to discover their personal skills and interests and how that information can be used to find a job or start a business. The session also covers job search, resume writing and job interview.

The second workshop deals with improving communication skills and covers things like communicating effectively, public speaking and written communications.

Workshop number three is on how to start your own business and includes information on writing a business plan, starting and running a business and the importance of having a mentor.

The fourth workshop is on skill development for boards and focuses on the functional and legal responsibilities of board or council members.

The fifth and final workshop deals with budgeting and financial management and includes information that will help participants better manage their personal finances and business finances and give them a better understanding of band finances.

The pilot program was run in 10 communities across the province, with more than 200 women completing the training sessions. Based on its initial success, the pilot was expanded into Ontario last year. Now CESO has partnered with the Native Women's Association of Canada to expand AWFT into a national program, which will be rolled out nationally in two phases. In 2006/2007, it will be offered in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and the Atlantic provinces, with 25 workshop series to be offered in total. In 2007/2008, it will expand into Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Manitoba.

Since it was announced that the program would be going national, the requests for information have been pouring in to CESO's offices.

"I can't even describe how many requests we have received, from individuals, from communities, urban Aboriginal women's organizations ... women gain so much from this workshop," Scribleac said.

"I will tell you just a little bit about what one of the women said to me, and it's very touching ... we went one year later and we asked, 'Did you do something? Have you seen any changes in your life?' And she said, you know, now I know how to set goals. You know what? After this workshop I realized how many positive things I'm in. And I renounced drinking and I can take care of my children and I want for them to have a different life and I'm going to make it possible for them. I mean,this is absolutely fantastic."

For more information about Aboriginal Women for Tomorrow call Delia Scribleac at 1-800-268-9052 ext. 252 or contact the CESO regional office for Saskatchewan at 1-800-579-2376.