Collective Impact for Inclusive Youth Employment (CIIYE

CIIYE is a multi-year collaboration between the CEI, Native Council of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Works – Opportunity Place, the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration, and the CIIYE community-based advisory group and mentors. The purpose of the CIIYE is to increase the labour force participation of young people (aged 18 to 34) from under-represented groups in Nova Scotia, including First Nations, African Nova Scotians and People of African Descent, visible minorities, Nova Scotians on Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA), and persons with a disability through the development and delivery of a workplace attachment and leadership development program. The initiative focuses on creating new meaningful employment opportunities for underrepresented youth across the province and providing supports such as mentorship and peer-learning opportunities, while also creating space for youth to be present in community as they develop their leadership skills and workforce capacity.

“So far I would just like to say the CIIYE program is a great idea and could help many struggling people be successful. In a way the program doesn’t just get people ready for a job, it gets them ready for life by learning many job skills but at the same time learning life skills that you can use to improve yourself as a person.”

Funding partner: Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration

# Participants: Currently, 16 young people (ages 18 to 34) are employed with 12 employers across Nova Scotia. 12 of the young people have found community-based mentors to support their journey. 9 community-based advisory group members.