YMCA Volunteers Acknowledgement Form

 

YMCA responses to Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+ and other marginalized communities.

 The YMCA Greater Toronto has a “Black Achiever Program” program for ages 14 to 19. This is a career cluster mentoring program. It runs through the school year. September to June. This program allows the self-identified black youth of high school to develop academically, professionally (career-wise), socially and mentally with the help of black adult professionals and role models.

In all other programs, the YMCA treats everybody equally.

How the YMCA respond to its clients’ needs

 People with different immigration and job statuses come to the YMCA for different kinds of help. Whenever they call or come in person, the YMCA asks what type of help they need. The YMCA has two major departments that help clients: Employment Services and the Newcomer Center. If a client needs any specific help, the organization refers them to other YMCA Branches.

 

Clients get registered if they need to meet the organization's support. Then, they get to meet with a counsellor for help. If any counsellor isn’t available or accessible, then they get an appointment or keep on the waiting list to get an appointment. If the client isn’t eligible for the counsellor, they get the necessary information and are added to the regular email list to join workshops, job fairs, etc.

 

Information about the YMCA Greater Toronto Services is available at the front desk and on the website to inform clients about the support they can receive from the organization.

YMCA Employment Services

 One social issue that the YMCA deals with is “Unemployment.” One of the central departments in the YMCA is “Employment Services.” Under this umbrella, we have several services based on the client’s Immigration Status, Employment Status and Age. Like,

 

Counselling: People who have immigration status “Permanent Residence” and “Canadian” and who are currently unemployed, in a part-time job or want to get a job according to their education can be eligible to have an Employment Counsellor to have a conversation one-on-one. The counsellor checked all the information and supported them in getting a job. The clients are referred to the Resume Building/Resource Department if the counsellor feels it is needed. The counsellor informs the client where they can apply and what kind of training is available or can be reached easily for their client. The counsellors also get help from the Job Development, Workshop and Job Fair departments to inform clients about upcoming events or jobs. Here, the client can talk directly with a professional to let them know their situation and get advice on how to succeed in getting a dream job.

 

Job Development: The organization has a Job Development Department to search for clients' jobs. This department collects the recruiter's offer letter and sends it to the counsellors and clients whom counsellors refer. The client then can go directly to the employer for an interview to get the job. Mostly, entry-level jobs are available here, which gives minimum wages.

 

Resume and Cover Letter Writing: The Resource department is responsible for resume and cover letter building. The counsellors send the client’s previous resume to the resource department, and then the resource team member updates the resume. Sometimes, the client doesn’t have a resume. In that case, the counsellor sends all necessary information or sends the client directly to the resource team or book an appointment with the resource team member to create a good resume. According to the client’s needs and experience, the team creates or updates the resume and sends it to the client.

 

Workshops: Another job of the Resource team is arranging Workshops. These workshops are based on employment and related issues, such as resume Building, Interview Skills, Financial Empowerment and well-being, Income Tax and Benefits, Cover Letter, Credit and debt, Management, Job Search Techniques, Better Job Ontario, Retirement and Financial Planning etc. All clients registered with YMCA Employment Services can be registered with the workshop department and get a monthly schedule for the online/In-person Workshops. People who have any status of Immigration (like student, work permit, refugee) status and any job status can join.

 

Job Fair: All interested people can join the Job Fair arranged by the YMCA. The resource team also arranges Some special job fairs, which are only for registered clients. All people with any status of Immigration (like students, work permits, refugees) and any job status can join.