The next programs at YOU we will explore in this series are their social enterprises, which are businesses run with the intent of doing social good and any proceeds made are directed back into the programming of the organization. YOU has a total of 5 social enterprise businesses which include Mushed by YOU, YOU Made it Café, YOU Made it Catering, Mushed by YOU, and YOU Made it Recycling.
Youth who take part in both our Training for Employment Success and Youth Job Connection workshops have the opportunity to join the skills training programs at our social enterprises. Having the chance to learn new skills and build the confidence to master those skills, gives youth placed in these real life work placements the experience they need to compete in the job market and gain a permanent job. Since YOU has a variety of social enterprises, youth are able to learn a wide range of skills like serving, customer service, cooking and kitchen skills, using woodshop machinery and knowledge of a manufacturing environment, food production skills and more. Check out Part 1 and Part 2!
One such youth, Avery, recently completed the skills training program and shared what it was like and the value of a program like this for young people.