S.U.C.C.E.S.S., in partnership with the ‘We Can’ British Columbia Campaign, co-hosted an event called “Women of Courage and S.U.C.C.E.S.S.” at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Employment Services office.

One of the primary goals of the event was to promote the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Aboriginal Bridging Employment Program for Women, celebrating the achievements of the participants, as well to raise awareness to the ‘We Can’ Campaign and 16 days of Activism.

So far, there are many successful stories shared amongst the participants in this aboriginal women’s program and one of them is this -

Amelia is a 52-year old Aboriginal woman living in Surrey, B.C. who joined a special program for aboriginal women to escape abuse and drug addiction. Knowing she needed to make a change, Amelia took the initiative to contact a social worker in Surrey who introduced her to the program where she enrolled immediately. Amelia found it was “hard to adjust to going to school again but I knew I wanted something better for my life.” She had spent most of her years as a stay at home mom with little work experience. She started to attend four classes per week in resume writing, job research, food safe and first aid. Amelia’s favourite experience while in the program was a visit to the Vancouver Public Library for a job fair organized by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Having never visited the Vancouver Public Library, she quickly fell in love with its beautiful architecture and knew it would be a place she would like to visit again and again. The job fair had over 15 businesses taking part in providing information and on-site interviews. Using her skills she developed through the program, Amelia talked with several employers at the fair and was immediately offered a job at a food and beverage booth at the Olympic Athletes Village in downtown Vancouver.

Before Amelia enrolled in the Aboriginal Bridging Employment Program for Women, she had registered as a volunteer for the 2010 Olympics in hopes to be a part of the action. Now, thanks to the program that helped her earn a paid position in the Olympic Athletes Village, she would be in the centre of it all. Before the Olympic Games, Amelia attended the venue’s introduction party where she toured the facility, met other staff and received her new uniform. Amelia said she was very excited about working at the Olympics where she met lots of people and felt like a part of the Games. “I can’t wait to watch the Olympic hockey games since hockey is my favourite sport,” she added.

When asked where she would see herself after the Olympics ended Amelia replied, “I would really like to start an after-school daycare at home. If I did not join the program, I think I would still be in the same bad situation, without work and an unhappy life. Now I can use what I’ve learned to maybe start my own business.”

Funded by the Ministry of Housing and Social Development, the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Aboriginal Bridging Employment Program for Women is specifically designed for Aboriginal women, delivered in a culturally sensitive way in order for them to overcome the impact of abuse and make positive changes in their lives. The program includes workshops in personal development, career and education exploration, certificate training, counseling and practicum placement. For more information, please visit http://www.successbc.ca/