Learning life skills at Adult Education Centre

November 20, 2018

Caleb Nickerson

caleb@theequity.ca

The thrift shop will be housed in the adult education centre in Fort Coulonge, and students will be tasked with cleaning and sorting of the inventory in addition to learning communication and math skills.

CALEB NICKERSON
FORT COULONGE
Nov. 14, 2018
On Nov. 14, a collaboration between four different education and social services groups was formally announced at the Adult Education Centre in Fort Coulonge. The new initiative will allow adult learners of all skill levels the opportunity to learn and gain employment experience working in a thrift store.
Representatives from Commission scolaire des Hauts Bois de l’Outaouais (CSHBO), Centre integer de santé et services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO), Comptoir Saint-Pierre and Centre Serge Bélair were all on hand Wednesday morning to announce their excitement for the project, which has been in the works for more than a year.
“We started meeting in Oct. 2017,” explained Stéphane Durocher of the Comptoir Saint-Pierre. “We’re looking to have 15 full-time [participants] per day, that’s what our goal is. We have 24 [attending] right now but, not full-time.”
He explained that each of the participants practice life skills like washing and sorting donated clothing and furniture, as well as learning basic communication and business skills.

“It’s all [adjusted] to their level,” he said, explaining that participants vary widely in their age and abilities. He added that there are similar programs in Maniwaki and Buckingham that they looked to as examples.
The Comptoir Saint-Pierre will handle collection and distribution of the merchandise, while staff from the Centre Serge Bélair will assist with recruitment, transportation for participants and accommodation for handicapped clientele, along with CISSSO. The CSHBO provided use of the building as well as creating a teaching role specifically for the project.
“We’re very happy to help other partners that have projects like this in the community,” said Daniel Larche, vice-principal of the school. “We invested not only in the remodelling of the room but we invested in a teacher that will be here every day to help with the students in their French, English and math for everyday life.”
He said that the move makes sense, since the building is quite large, accessible and already equipped for a wide range of activities. He added that the CSHBO’s partner’s worked hard to make the project possible.
“The people get along very well, so I think it’s going to be a successful project,” he said.

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