CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – Feb. 23, 2010 – RDÉE Prince Edward Island is looking for PEI students who are in their last or second last year of college or university studies to participate in the ninth edition of the PERCÉ program, which offers them work experience during paid internships in their field of studies.
Firstly, this program will offer Francophone and Anglophone students a week of orientation and exploration, explains Christian Gallant, development officer with RDÉE PEI in charge of recruiting for PERCÉ.
After this training, the students will be placed in a summer internships for about 12 weeks. There, they will have the opportunity to work in their field of studies under the guidance of a mentor and will be able to make valuable contacts within their industry.
RETURN TO PEI
“We hope that these work placements will encourage young Islanders who are studying outside of PEI to eventually return to their native province to make a life and a career for themselves,” explains Gallant. “This program’s objective is to help counter the youth brain-drain and to allow the youth to contribute to the provincial economy.”
At a national level, PERCÉ has gained the reputation as a best practice, an exemplary program and an indispensable method for reversing the out-migration of youth. In fact, a survey has revealed that about 64 per cent of former participants have either returned to their home province or are planning to return in the near future.
“The program continues to open doors for many of our former participants by helping them find jobs on PEI after having completed their studies or by helping them access higher levels of studies,” adds Gallant.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
All those who are interested must register by Friday, March 30 by visiting the program’s bilingual website at www.percepe.ca and by filling out the application form. Any questions can be directed to Gallant by phone at (902) 370-7333 or by email at christian@rdeeipe.org.
A selection committee will then review all applications and select as many participants as funding will allow. Please note that the program will only be offered if sufficient funding is received.
FOR EMPLOYERS
The PERCÉ program offers employers qualified employees in their professional sector for a period of 10-12 weeks. In addition, the program helps cover salary costs. For more information or to register as an employer, please visit the “Employers” section of the www.percepe.ca website.
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CUTLINE: Christian Gallant, development officer with RDÉE PEI in charge of the PERCÉ program, explains the program to Collège Acadie Î.-P.-É. students Darien Wilson, left, and Kathlene Smallman.
For information:
Christian Gallant
Development Officer
RDÉE Prince Edward Island Inc.
(902) 370-7333
christian@rdeeipe.org