10 years of YouthForce: Helping youth build the communities they call home
Around the Region regularly shares the work of different community partners. This month, we hear from Kinbridge Community Association. They are a registered charity and community organization based in Cambridge, whose mission is to facilitate sustainable social supports that help their neighbours reach their full potential, fostering vibrant, healthy communities in which no one is left behind. One of their core programs is YouthForce, a summer employment program they operate in partnership with the Region of Waterloo.
By Amie Sider, Social Impact Manager, Kinbridge Community Association
For 10 years, YouthForce has been creating opportunities for young people to earn, learn and make a difference in the communities where they live.
Through a partnership between Kinbridge Community Association, the Region of Waterloo and Waterloo Region Housing (WRH), YouthForce provides paid summer employment for youth ages 15 to 30 who live in or around WRH communities across Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. Over the past decade, this program has employed 189 young people.
Their work takes many forms, from property maintenance and clean up to tenant engagement. YouthForce teams also love getting involved in community events, supporting BBQs and gatherings with Waterloo Region Housing communities. These opportunities give youth a chance to work alongside residents and experience a different side of community-building.
This summer, 32 YouthForce staff completed a combined 7,920 hours of paid employment over eight weeks. Together, they performed 2,885 inspections (looking for items on the buildings or property that may need repair/replacement) and visited 81 different WRH sites.
Those numbers and accomplishments tell us what this program does, but after 10 years, we know the impact goes far beyond the work completed.
For many young people, YouthForce provides structure and a reason to get outside, connect with others and be part of something each day. Over eight weeks, we see young people become more confident, more comfortable interacting with their community, and more willing to take on new challenges.
“YouthForce was so much more than just a job for me,” shared one Kitchener team member. I got to meet really cool people, make new friends, be less afraid of doing things in the community, and have awesome mentors that supported me along the way.”
These are themes we hear year after year. Youth tell us about making unexpected friendships. They talk about becoming more comfortable in their communities and learning how to work as part of a team. They leave with practical employment experience, new skills and references, and feeling more prepared and confident as they move toward their next job.
The impact can extend beyond the individual youth, too. For some participants, earning a steady summer income gives them an opportunity to contribute at home and support their families in ways that can make a meaningful difference.
All of this incredible growth is happening while young people give back to places they already know. They aren’t simply working a job. They live in or around these communities, so they’re building relationships with neighbours and seeing the impact of their work firsthand.
As we celebrate 10 years of YouthForce, we at the Kinbridge Community Association are proud of the thousands of hours worked and the visible improvements made across Waterloo Region Housing communities.
But we’re most proud of the 189 young people who have had an opportunity to work, build confidence, make connections and discover what they’re capable of.