CHARLOTTETOWN – July 17, 2025 – Thirty-five postsecondary students are benefiting from paid internships lasting 8 to 12 weeks this summer, putting their newly acquired skills into practice and confirming that they are in the right field.

“These PERCÉ internships, offered by RDÉE Prince Edward Island, give our participants the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their field of study, which gives them a head start on their future careers,” says coordinator Natalia Saldarriaga.

“Our participants work in a wide variety of sectors, including information technology, business and finance, biotechnology, kinesiology, mental health, biochemistry, engineering, social sciences, climate change, and the arts and dance. Exceptionally this year, most of our participants are working in the Charlottetown area. A few are working in Summerside, one near Wellington, and one in Belfast.”

Before the internships began at the end of May, the young adults participated in two days of training, one in Summerside and the other in Charlottetown. A third and final day of training took place on July 11 at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre. It included an interactive session led by consultant Bruce Joshua of Capstan Consulting on leadership, well-being, and healthy lifestyle habits in relation to the participants’ studies and future careers. The second part of the day was devoted to continuing the Insights Discovery personality test, led by independent consultant Donald DesRoches. The training was offered to 27 students.

“These training sessions were designed to directly address the needs of the participants. We provided them with concrete tools that are transferable to the job market. The feedback from the students was very positive. They found the training sessions useful, dynamic, and enriching,” said Saldarriaga. “The participants learned to better understand their personal strengths through the Insights Discovery personality test. And many of the participants said they felt more confident and motivated to enter the job market after these training sessions. They also appreciated the opportunity to meet other participants and to feel supported in their journey.”

The overall objective of the PERCÉ program, now in its 22nd year, is to convince these young people, who are mainly studying outside the province, to return one day to live and work on the Island. PERCÉ is offered thanks to funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the provincial Department of Economic Development, Innovation and Trade.

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PHOTOS: Participants in the 2025 edition of the PERCÉ program play a game related to personality types on the third day of training in Charlottetown on July 11.

 

For more information:
Natalia Saldarriaga
PERCÉ Program Coordinator
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
(250) 253-5794
perce@rdeeipe.org