CHARLOTTETOWN – July 19, 2018 – Thanks to RDÉE Prince Edward Island’s PERCÉ internship program, 31 postsecondary students from PEI are gaining eight to 12 weeks of valuable work experience in a field related to their studies, right here in their province of origin.
“As always, the objective of our program is to help these young adults, who are mostly studying in postsecondary institutions outside the province, understand that there are indeed employment opportunities for them here on the Island,” explains coordinator Fanny Drigny. “During a week of training and orientation, we also help them see all of the advantages of the tranquil PEI way of life.”
In the past, youth who would study outside of PEI would rarely return to the Island. However, since the arrival of PERCÉ, more than 80 per cent of these young participants come back to the Island to make a life and a career for themselves following their studies. “We are therefore very proud of this magnificent rate of repatriation and retention,” adds Drigny.
In this 15th year of the PERCÉ program, the 31 chosen interns are studying in fields that are in demand in this province. They have therefore been placed in paid internships directly related to their field. Among the 2018 participants…
• 10 are in placements related to health and leisure (seniors care, sports and games, nutrition, Alzheimer and veterinary care);
• Seven are in educational internships (early childhood, literacy, culture);
• Seven are in arts internships (artistic administration and coordination, music, theatre, video production);
• Four are in engineering placements (physics, engineering laboratories);
• Three are in law internships (legal information, politics).
Among their employers are private businesses, community groups, charitable organizations, postsecondary institutions, government agencies, seniors car centers, a hospital, early childhood centers and others. The program provides them with a financial incentive to help pay their intern’s salary.
A total of 88 youth submitted applications to the program this year.
The PERCÉ program receives support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the government of Prince Edward Island.
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CUTLINE 1: Olivia Wigmore, who is studying law, is undergoing a PERCÉ internship with the Community Legal Information Association of PEI.
CUTLINE 2: Thanks to his PERCÉ placement, Nicholas Murphy, who is studying dramatic arts, will be in charge, among of things, of all the wigs used in the Anne & Gilbert production at The Guild in Charlottetown this summer.
For more information:
Fanny Drigny
Coordinator of the PERCÉ Program
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
(902) 370-7333, Ext. 407
fanny@rdeeipe.org