Two youth to provide testimonials

SUMMERSIDE, PEI – Nov. 22, 2013 – University and college students from PEI who would like to have a paid summer internship in their field of studies on the Island next summer are invited to an information session for the PERCÉ program Monday, Dec. 23.

The hour-long session will be held at Brothers Two Restaurant in Summerside starting at 4:30 p.m. for English-speaking students and at 5:30 p.m. for French-speaking students. During the session, youth will receive information about the program and will hear testimonials from two former participants who have completed PERCÉ internships. Tyler Palmer will speak to the Anglophones and Joceline Arsenault will share her experiences with the Francophone students.

All participating youth will receive a $20 gift card from Brothers Two.

“To participate in the PERCÉ program, a person must be aged 30 years or less and must be enrolled in a university or college program either outside of PEI or here on the Island,” explains Stéphane Blanchard, the RDÉE PEI development officer who oversees the program. “Preference is usually given to students who are in their last or second-last year of postsecondary studies.”

The program consists of two parts: an orientation week that includes personal and professional discoveries, followed by a 10 to 12-week, paid internship with an employer working in the student’s field of studies.

“In addition to providing them with valuable work experience, the program has opened many doors for a number of our former participants, either by helping them in finding a full-time job on P.E.I. after completing their studies, establishing contacts for an eventual job or accessing higher levels of studies,” added the officer.

It is hoped that next summer’s program will accommodate 20 participants: 10 Anglophones and 10 Francophones.

Blanchard added that employers who are interested in hosting young professionals and the youth’s parents are also invited to attend the session.

“So, parents, if your children are coming home to PEI for the holidays, why not encourage them to register for this free information session?” he suggested. As well, members of the public are invited to spread the message about this session to people they know who might be able to benefit from the program.

Those interested in attending the information session are asked to register by contacting Blanchard at (902) 370-7333, Ext. 402, or stephane@rdeeipe.org no later than Dec. 20. More details about the program can be found on its website at www.percepe.ca.

Please note that in case of a storm, the session will be delayed until Friday, Dec. 27, at the same times and location.

The PERCÉ internship program, which will be in its 11th year in 2014, is hosted by RDÉE Prince Edward Island, the provincial francophone economic development council.

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CUTLINE: Two participants from last summer’s PERCÉ internship program, Tyler Palmer and Joceline Arsenault, will be sharing their experiences with the program during information sessions held in Summerside Dec. 23.

For more information:
Stéphane Blanchard
Development officer responsible for PERCÉ
(902) 370-7333, Ext. 402
stephane@rdeeipe.org