Photo Courtesy Chris Brown/CHATNewsToday

By Gates Guarin

'successful in life'

Pilot program aims to teach teens vital life skills

Jun 28, 2022 | 4:25 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Teens in the community will have the chance to learn skills they would not necessarily get to learn in the classroom thanks to a funding grant from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters Medicine Hat received a $6,000 grant to help kickstart a pilot program geared to teaching young adults important life skills.

The planned 14-week program is currently in the planning stages, and will include modules on financial literacy, such as budgeting or how to open a bank account; resume writing workshops and how to prepare for job interviews. Practical skills, such as grocery shopping and proper meal planning are also in the works for the program.

Melissa Pearl, director of service delivery, says the program was created to help young adults hone in on these necessary life skills as early as possible.

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“From different conversations we had from different community agencies and parents and even staff, we’re just hearing the same conversations that we just want to be able to set the kids up to be successful in life,” Pearl says. “If we start young and implement those skills as they grow up, they’re using them and they’re being knowledgeable as they continue on in life.”

Big Brothers, Big Sisters will facilitate these modules, as well as bring in experts to help prepare young adults as best as possible. The program is currently slated to begin in the fall, and the grant money received will be used to kickstart the program, purchase supplies and cover initial operational costs.