It was in this spirit of supporting students that, 14 years ago, the centre asked Int\u00e9gration Jeunesse du Qu\u00e9bec (IJQ)<\/a>\u00a0to assist its teachers and professionals in their day-to-day work with students dealing with significant psychosocial issues. Founded in 1980 in Montreal, the IJQ is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping unemployed young adults integrate into society by offering services that focus on both their needs and job market requirements.<\/p>\n The partnership between the IJQ and Centre G\u00e9d\u00e9on-Ouimet has generated many initiatives over the years, including the aptly named Projet 16-20, aimed specifically at supporting 16\u201320-year-olds.<\/p>\n \u00c9lodie Boisseau and St\u00e9phane Richard (Photo : Fran\u00e7ois Couture)<\/em><\/p>\n The adult education student body has become much younger in recent years, hence the idea of designing a program especially for younger students. Sixteen is the age when school attendance is no longer mandatory and when many young people struggling with issues such as poverty, a romantic breakup, identity crisis, an unwanted pregnancy, or drug addiction decide to drop out of school.<\/p>\n “These students also need a ton of psychological and emotional support because their lives are so troubled. But as principal, I can\u2019t afford to pay staff to provide this service internally with our tight budgets. That\u2019s where the IJQ comes in.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cThe adult education format, which includes a more personalized teaching approach and a variable schedule, is better suited to these youth, who still want to go to school despite their troubled lives,\u201d explains Centre G\u00e9d\u00e9on-Ouimet principal St\u00e9phane Richard. \u201cOur teachers provide guidance, but these students also need a ton of psychological and emotional support because their lives are so troubled. But as principal, I can\u2019t afford to pay staff to provide this service internally with our tight budgets. That\u2019s where the IJQ comes in. They have designed services to meet the needs of these students. For me, it\u2019s a natural partnership because our missions are perfectly aligned.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of Projet 16-20, the IJQ oversees a plethora of extracurricular activities and services for youth at the centre, such as greening workshops, psychological counselling, and social and cultural activities. These activities fulfill many needs and provide an opportunity to offer psychosocial support.<\/p>\n “Thanks to our excellent lines of communication with his professors and the centre\u2019s administration we knew that he displayed similar behaviours at school. We used the sports setting to teach him some self-control techniques and help him understand that there were other ways to react to stress or anger.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00c9lodie Boisseau, who supervises employment services and training at the IJQ describes this aspect of the partnership between the two organizations: \u201cFour years ago, we founded a soccer team to play in an inter-centre league. During one match, we were able to intervene with a young person who was having trouble controlling his impulsiveness, and thanks to our excellent lines of communication with his professors and the centre\u2019s administration we knew that he displayed similar behaviours at school. We used the sports setting to teach him some self-control techniques and help him understand that there were other ways to react to stress or anger.\u201d<\/p>\n These activities also create a stimulating environment for the hundred or so young participants, give them a chance to build relationships with each other, and boost their sense of belonging to the school and the community. \u201cIn September, we learned that some youth had registered in adult education courses because there was a soccer team at G\u00e9d\u00e9on-Ouimet!\u201d mentions Boisseau. \u201cAnd something wonderful happened during the school year,\u201d adds Richard; \u201csome street gangs had approached some of the younger students, and the team veterans intervened to warn them and resolve altercations in the cafeteria. We were so proud!\u201d The various activities also serve to introduce participants to the different community services available to them, a not insignificant side benefit given how difficult it can be to effectively reach this segment of the population.<\/p>\n “We can\u2019t be specialists in every field, so we surround ourselves with partners with various specialties, because our young people face a number of barriers to become employable.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cAt G\u00e9d\u00e9on-Ouimet, our role is to grease the wheels of a big machine aimed at the well-being of young people. But we can\u2019t be specialists in every field, so we surround ourselves with partners with various specialties, because our young people face a number of barriers to become employable. Having a good r\u00e9sum\u00e9 isn\u2019t enough to get a job; you need good social skills too. In this sense, the IJQ\u2019s Projet 16-20 helps participants a great deal and really sets them up for success,\u201d declares Richard.<\/p>\n _ June 2018<\/em><\/p>\n Over the coming months, Montreal Hooked on School will publish a series of articles about various fruitful partnerships between the education sector and community stakeholders promoting youth success. <\/em><\/p>\n We asked writer and photographer Fran\u00e7ois Couture<\/strong> to go and meet the people involved in these partnerships and tell their stories.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A project for 16\u201320-year-olds from Int\u00e9gration Jeunesse du Qu\u00e9bec at Centre G\u00e9d\u00e9on-Ouimet Located in Montreal\u2019s Ville-Marie borough, centre G\u00e9d\u00e9on-Ouimet is an adult education centre attended by about 500 students every year. It offers high school continuation or completion programs, and pre-requisite courses for vocational programs or CEGEP through formal instruction and a personalized approach. Experienced … Continue reading Supporting students who re-engage with school<\/span> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.reseaureussitemontreal.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/PROJET-16-20_700.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nA partnership that generates many forms of support for vulnerable youth<\/h6>\n
Psychosocial intervention during soccer games<\/h6>\n
Creating an environment that fosters interest in school<\/h6>\n
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