Following an excellent 18th year in 2021

WELLINGTON – Dec. 10, 2021 – « We are very pleased to announce that we will be able to offer our PERCÉ work placements to 35 post-secondary students from PEI next summer – an increase of five from last summer, » says Julie Gallant, who coordinates the program for RDÉE Prince Edward Island.

She enthusiastically launched the participant recruiting campaign for this 19th edition of the program. She considers this to be quite a progression since the first year when only 10 interns from the Island, who were studying outside the province, were accepted. At that time, the RDÉE was crossing its fingers, hoping that two or three of these young people would come back to settle permanently on the Island after their studies to make a life and career here. It was a great and pleasant surprise for everyone to realize a few years later that the program had succeeded in convincing about 80 percent of its participants to return. That number continues to hold.

As always, the program will offer its participants an average of 10 to 12 weeks of paid work in their field of study here on the Island. Participants will be offered a series of training and orientation sessions on topics such as self-awareness, job readiness and exploring Island career opportunities; some of the sessions will be offered in person and others via video conference.

A short promotional video was produced two years ago to further explain the program: https://youtu.be/BBnAC-PJS9w.

For more information or to apply, please visit www.percepe.ca. Any questions can be sent to perce@rdeeipe.org. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2022.

PRIORITY AREAS

Since its inception, the PERCÉ program has hosted more than 400 interns. In recent years, particular emphasis has been placed on hosting interns who are studying in priority or “essential” fields. Health, education and science are among the most popular sectors, but the RDÉE always welcomes participants from other fields as well.

Bilingualism will be considered an asset. Once participants are selected, the coordinating team will assist in finding them an appropriate internship location. The intern will then be paid the same salary as an entry-level intern in this type of work.

Parents of university and college students are encouraged to pass on the message that the program is looking for participants.

As for employers, in addition to receiving a financial incentive to help pay the salary of their intern, they receive the services of an enthusiastic student who has acquired the latest practices in their industry and is willing to learn. « Employers who would like to host an intern are encouraged to fill out an interest form on our website and let us know if they already have a participant in mind who could fill the position. This would greatly increase their chances of being selected, » concludes Gallant.

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PHOTO: RDÉE Prince Edward Island’s president, Dr. Christian Lacroix, and coordinator Julie Gallant recently launched the PERCÉ program recruiting campaign for the summer of 2022. They will be able to welcome 35 students this summer.

 

For more information, please contact

Stéphane Blanchard
Youth Development Officer
Responsible for the PERCÉ program
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
(902) 388-8460
stephane@rdeeipe.org