Holistic approach taken to life skills training

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It was a time of celebration at the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal on March 23 as graduation ceremonies were held for the first group of students to complete phase one of a new life skills and computer training program.

During the first phase, participants-Inuit, First Nation and Metis students ranging in age from 18 to 60-took part in introductory life skills and computer programs. The second phase is comprised of nine sessions on job search techniques, while the third phase will include intermediate life skills and computer training, as well as beginner French.

When the program first started up in September 2004, there were 30 students enrolled.

Twenty-four of those original 30 stuck with the program to the end of phase one and took part in the graduation ceremonies.

An 80 per cent success rate is quite an accomplishment under any circumstances, but it is even more amazing in this case when you take into account the challenges many of the students faced on a daily basis. Some of the participants were homeless, others at risk of becoming homeless.

Some were battling addictions. And, during the course of the program, two of the students had to deal with personal tragedy-the death of a loved one.

"There was an aunty and a mom and a son who had signed up to take the training program, and two or three weeks into the training program, the son was murdered," explained Sky Bellefleur, communications officer with the friendship centre and one of the lifeskills trainers involved in the program. The son had gone through the initial screening process for the program, but hadn't attended any of the classes, she said.

When the son, only 19 years old, was killed, "mom and aunty just fell to the deep, dark place of sadness and we all went there with them and we stayed with them and stayed beside them and prayed for them and supported them," Bellefleur said. The group held a memorial service and the centre allowed the women to come back to the program when they were ready to return.

"It was just things like that that created a bond between us which was, I think, very authentic and very ancient. And it just moved outside of the so-called excuse that we had to meet together three days a week, which was the excuse of the life skills program," Bellefleur said. "The real thing that was happening was that we began to trust each other and we cared for each other. We respected each other and we really tried to live those values and make them come alive."

All participants in the program had a code of conduct that had to be followed in the classroom, but those rules were decided by the members of the group themselves, Bellefleur said. When individuals didn't adhere to the code, it fell to the group to determine the consequences.

"Four people had to be dropped from the program, and sometimes it's quite difficult to do that. People didn't want to have to not come anymore, but we'd negotiated these boundaries early on, those protocols and code of ethics and code of conduct. We'd negotiated that," Bellefleur said.

"And so when that was breached then we took it to the group and we said, 'Well, now we need guidance. This is what we observe. How do you feel? Give us direction. What should we do?'"

Sky Bellefleur believes one of the things that helped the students get through their training was the inclusion of spirituality within the program. Smudging and prayers were part of the daily process, although taking part in the ceremonies was optional. Not all students followed traditional Native ways, and they were encouraged to pray in their own way and in their own language, "and that gave them ownership of, you know, created a sacred space and that kind of thing," Bellefleur said.

Another important factor contributing to the success of the program was the amount of support students received throughout. Students could use the showers at the friendship centre, and meals were provided on the days clases were held. Participants were also provided bus tickets to get to and from their classes, and could also take advantage of the centre's clothing depot.

"The clothing depot was a huge bonus for them, to be able to come in and say, 'I just want to come looking decent and things are just worn out on my end. Can I grab some extra clothes?' No problem," Bellefleur said.

Students were also given an opportunity to earn some extra money by being responsible for the computer rooms on the days when classes weren't offered. With classes three days a week, and the opportunity to work in the computer room filling up two more days, some of the students were at the friendship centre for five days a week. With the centre's zero tolerance policy when it comes to drug and alcohol use, that was a big step for people with addictions, Bellefleur said.

"It's already breaking drinking patterns if people are coming in sober Monday through Friday. Or even three days a week, is already doing something positive. And there's been a couple of people that have taken some treatment and made some healthy choices," she said.

The participants have just begun the second phase of the program, but some have already seen the results of their training. Four of the graduates from phase one have already found full-time employment, and one will be working part-time at the friendship centre once phase two is over, Bellefleur said.

The program also provides opportunities for job shadowing and job mentoring, and other supports that will continue after the participant has completed the training program. When program participants do find work, Bellefleur would like to see a circle established, with the employer joining the participant and the friendship centre in working together to make the placement work.

Helping students get through the training program hasn't been easy, but it has been rewarding, both for the students and the trainers, Bellefleur said.

"It wasn't all picnics and butteflies. It was really tough and really painful and disappointing at times and frustrating and maddening ... we went through every emotion and every experience, just about. And we still stayed together and the 24 graduated, so I'm so proud of them."