Program touching young lives

Page 10

In a quiet ceremony in a community hall in Prince Albert's west end recently, there were seven handshakes, seven smiles and seven certificates given out as Vicky Ducharme looked on with pride.

It was her seven students she was watching during the graduation ceremony for the Youth Futures Self Discovery Program. And it was seven lives that have become very important to her that she was watching change.

"I know the students have gone through a lot in the classroom," Ducharme told the crowd. "But I notice we're all stronger than we were in September."

She said the group stuck together through some very emotional times and prayed together as the program went along.

Youth Futures is a provincial pilot program started in September of 1997 designed to help young people get off the streets or out of the welfare trap.

The 12-week program helps the youths aged 18 to 22 deal with issues like drugs, suicide and relationships. And most of those issues stem from problems with self-esteem.

Ducharme, facilitator for the Self Discovery program, said many of her students have to deal with past abuses and hopelessness - the very things that drove them to turn to the streets.

"They've gone through a lot," she said.

To help build self-esteem back up, the students are taught about traditional Native heritage, values and spirituality.

Ducharme said the goal is to help the youths upgrade themselves and move on to meet their hopes and dreams - something that seems very far away to them before they start the program.

Graduating student Priscilla Netmaker said she benefited from the teachings of the Elders involved in the program and the holistic way of life that they introduced her to.

"Self discovery has given me a chance to live a more positive life," she said.

Indications from the first group of students Ducharme watched graduate in August show it is making a difference.

Ducharme said nine of her first group of 10 students have gone on to get jobs or go back to school for upgrading or to earn their general equivalency diploma. And she hopes the same will happen for the seven of 10 students graduating from the second class.

"It's them that do it, it's not me," Ducharme said with obvious pride. "I'm just there to talk and help if they want it."

Two of her previous graduates came back for the Dec. 17 ceremony to share their experience with Ducharme's second class.

Marabella Custer told the class how she went back to school after her program and is about to finish her Grade 10 level. Along the way she had to struggle with alcoholism and a problem with math, but with the support of her parents, spouse and children she is overcoming the obstacles.

"Vicky told me that if you keep yourself in the holistic circle, things will work out for you," she said. "You have to believe in yourself and go on, and you will make it."

Olivia Custer also came back to talk to the graduating class. She said she had nowhere else to go and felt really alone when she found out about the program.

She learned about the Native background she had forgotten growing up during the program and later discovered many talents within herself.

Bill Powalinsky, manager of Youth Futures, said the overall program started as a vision out of Saskatchewan Social Services to reform the welfare system that has grown to include Post-Secondary and Education and Skills Training and the Department of Education. It is funded by the three provincial departments until March of 1999.

He would like to see one more Self Discovery group graduate before then.

Other Youth Futures programs include career counselling, pre-natal care and support, a job-finding club, GED classes and the Steps Toward Employment Program.

Since it has started, Youth Futures has had about 421 people enter programs and has seen about 340 complete them.

Powalinsky said one critical factor in the success of Youth Futures has been the flexibility given to the community board by the province to develop programs as they are neede.

If it is successful in Prince Albert, Youth Futures may serve as a template to help even more Saskatchewan youths.

"We're hoping what has been learning in Prince Albert can be rolled out to other parts of the province," Powalinsky said.