Youth in Windsor-Essex will have a chance at a new program courtesy of the Unemployed Help Centre.
Founding a mentoring program has been on the centre's wish list for some time — and now that local business man Sam Sinjari has signed on for Steering Success - that wish has come true.
The 28 year old will be the first mentor for the pilot project that is long overdue, according to CEO June Muir.
"We served 1,332 youth, which makes up 42% of the total number we serve," she says. "That's a lot of youth that we're assisting and having Sam on board is definitely going to make a difference."
She says Sinjari will be able to share what he's learned trying to establish himself in the finance industry.
"Being young he's going to be able to share his job experiences and what he's been through," says Muir. "Many youth feel the same way, they lack confidence, but there's no reason to lack confidence because you know when you go for a job interview, everybody's nervous and there's no reason to feel that you can't do it."
Muir hopes Sinjari will be the first of many to set an example for the centre.
"We're hoping that other mentors will join him and it will grow," she says. "When they go to work, or go back to school, it's always nice to have that person you can look up to or talk to about something that's going on at work or something that's going on in your life."
Steering Success group sessions are open to anyone seeking mentorship and advice, but Muir says it will be open to clients enrolled in the Youth Job Connection and other youth-focused programs at the centre.
The program will commence once they've found 15-youths who wish to participate — anyone interested can contact the Unemployed Help Centre for more information.
— with files from AM800's Peter Langille