Fabienne Audette, Managing Director, Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ; Andréane Morin, Managing Director, CJE Frontenac; Catherine Lachance, Managing Director, Réseau d’entraide des Appalaches; Audrey Marcoux, Assistant Managing Director, CJE Frontenac; Geneviève Gagnon, Director of Programs, Impact and Community Relations, Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ
In 2023, the CJE Frontenac team began handing out start-up kits to youths transitioning to adulthood, adding an extra layer of support to the adapted education program the organization had developed in partnership with Le Réseau d’entraide des Appalaches. Now, with the $25,000 grant provided by the Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ, the organization can broaden its work and roll out the Sur le chemin de ton indépendance program.
The program is intended to give youths additional tools, providing them with custom-packed backpacks filled with everything they need to complete their education (e.g., school supplies, registration fees, books, transit fares, computer equipment, and special supplies for certain types of vocational training). With the Fondation’s help, CJE Frontenac can reach 20 youths aged 16 to 25 under the program. The backpacks are custom-packed to meet individual needs and are designed to support youths as they choose the paths that are right for them—both in and beyond school. This is one way CJE Frontenac can empower youths as adults and help them play an active role in their communities.
Partnering with other community organizations in the region is key to all our projects. Our goal is the same as always: give young people the tools they need to start their adult lives and help them through any challenges they may face as they navigate the paths they’ve chosen and get used to living on their own. We create strong, lasting bonds by tailoring our services to the needs of each and every youth.
This is a wonderful way to do more for these young people, who often lack a support network and need our guidance as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.
It’s impressive to see how well community organizations in the Chaudière-Appalaches region work together and how many areas they cover. Projects like Sur le chemin de ton indépendance speak volumes and clearly demonstrate the region’s commitment to local youths and its dedication to providing more vulnerable youths with the support they need. Well done!