Building Jobs for the Future

Ottawa Community Foundation grant helps unemployed youth find a new direction

November 20, 2017

Mohamed Herguteye and his seven brothers and sisters grew up in a small village in Ethiopia.

“Life was very hard for us growing up,” he explains.  “There were not a lot of jobs for our parents, so it was very tough and an unhealthy environment.”

For Mohamed’s parents, it was a constant struggle to provide for their growing family, and in September 2016 they decided to make a drastic change.  In search of a fresh start and a brighter future for their children, the Herguteyes left their native land and moved the family to Canada.

It’s only been one year since the big move, but Mohamed has already seen tremendous benefits from his family’s life-altering decision to leave Africa.  As a refugee, the 23-year-old was matched with the Social Planning Council of Ottawa and was eligible to take part in the Building Greener Futures Together initiative.  The program recruits unemployed youth (under the age of 30), with an interest in the construction trades, and helps them build their skills through training and job placements.

Thanks to a 2017 grant of $40,000 from the Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF), more than 30 youth have been able to access the program. This brings the total investment from the OCF to $120,000 over four years, an amount that has been instrumental in the long-term sustainability and growth of this program.

“They complete a training program with us, which includes learning a number of soft and hard skills,” explains Heather Hunter, program coordinator for the Social Planning Council of Ottawa.  “The participants learn everything from building a resume and communication to the on-the-job technical skills they get from working with a contractor.”

Mohamed successfully completed his training program and earned a placement at Revelstoke Development Corporation.  He spends his days working at a number of construction job sites, doing things like demolition work and helping to install drywall and place new windows.  His strong work ethic and positive attitude have made a real impact on his colleagues and mentors.

“He is so hard working.  This industry starts early, and you need to be on the job site for 7 a.m.,” explains Heather.  “Mohamed had to be on the bus for 6 a.m.  He was never late and never once missed a day of work during his training program – he is always smiling.”

Heather believes the Building Greener Futures Together employment intervention is incredibly meaningful to the youth who are looking to make positive changes in their lives.

“I have seen the impact it has on kids; they stop by our office years later and give us their business cards and we see how it’s made a difference,” she explains.  “It’s the difference between being unemployed without direction to having permanent employment and working above minimum wage.”

“They have the chance to work in a viable industry and doing something that fits their interests and skills.  It can really be life changing for many.”

Today, Mohamed is happy and enjoying his new life as a Canadian citizen, and he celebrates every milestone that comes with his continued success at work.

“Having this job and this experience helped me to be more independent for my life,” he explains.  “And the more experience I get, the better I will be to find more jobs in the future.”