AESP Aboriginal High School Mentor Program Receives Changemakers Award!Partnering with ASHOKA Changemakers allows Carleton University’s AESP Aboriginal High School Mentorship Program to continue supporting Aboriginal students in achieving their academic goals. The Changemakers Initiative also highlights the work happening across the country to support Canada’s Firat Nations, Metis and Inuit communities and we are thanful to be part of this important dialogue. Click the winner icon below to view the press release!
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2012 Changemakers Award Winners with former Prime Minister Paul Martin |
The Aboriginal High School Mentorship program is an opportunity for Carleton students to work as peer mentors with Aboriginal high school students in the Ottawa area, through involvement in the classroom, lunch or after-school clubs, or cultural clubs. Currently, Carleton students are working 4 hours each week at the Odawa Urban Aboriginal Alternative High School, which offers a fully aboriginal curriculum in a holistic learning environment, and at Rideau High School, which offers extensive learning opportunities and supports for its Aboriginal students.
The mentors are role models and academic coaches who assist students with their coursework by offering learning strategies and practical advice. The mentors’ post-secondary experiences enable them to refer students to helpful resources and information as a bridge between high school and post-secondary or career goals. The positive relationship between mentor and student helps increase confidence, contributes to the achievement of goals, and fosters an understanding about learning and life challenges.
This program is the result of a partnership between the Centre for Initiatives in Education and the Centre for Aboriginal Culture and Education (CACE).
The program has several goals:
- Share learning experiences and knowledge
- Enhance and further develop cultural knowledge and understanding
- Dispel confusion and false perceptions about post-secondary learning
- Encourage students to consider different options after high school; to motivate and guide them with what is available
- Develop leadership, communication and solution-based skills
- Enable continual and positive role-modelling for Aboriginal youth
Partners
Rideau High School: http://rideauhigh.ca/?page=home
Odawa Urban Aboriginal Alternative High School: http://www.odawa.on.ca/programs/uaahs.htm
CACE: http://www.carleton.ca/aboriginal/
Interesting in being a mentor?
Application forms will be available on August 20th, 2012 and the application deadline will be September 7th, 2012. Please click on employment opportunities at the left.