Belfast Youth Arrive in Vancouver for International
Exchange Program
By TODD OGRYZLO
VANCOUVER – Vancouver is welcoming its third Shamrock Program participants – a partnership with Springboard (Belfast) and YES Canada BC (Burnaby). Nineteen youths from Northern Ireland arrive on May 9 as part of an international awareness and exchange program helping to build bridges between peoples affected by the troubles in Northern Ireland.
Both organizations have extensive experience working with youth towards their life and career goals. YES Canada BC has programs that serve over 200,000 people annually and Springboard has provided support to over 1,800 youth in similar programs around the world.
The Shamrock Program begins in Belfast where students work on skill development relevant to their employment focus and working with the group and other members as a whole.
The second part of the program takes place in Vancouver where students continue to build on friendships while developing hospitality industry skills and participating in an individually tailored work experience.
Some of the specific training and skill enhancements include: hospitality industry overview, certified training in customer service, first aid, basic food hygiene, food and drink service (table preparation, serving techniques, wine service, receiving payments, and bartending), front desk training and other skills, and serving it right.
These prepare the students for the positions they will be working in during the seven week work placements. All wages and workers compensation costs are covered by the program.
Anyone who would like to provide an opportunity for a student with a work placement as a front desk clerk, waitress, bartender, or other hospitality industry position, is invited to call the YES Canada BC office at (604) 435-1937.
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