WELLINGTON, PEI – July 19, 2012 – Armed with tonnes of enthusiasm and energy, the adolescent worker-members of the Coopérative service jeunesse Evangeline (Youth Services Co-op) are ready to get to work to provide all kinds of services to their community.

“We are therefore inviting people, organizations and business from the Evangeline and surrounding areas to hire one or more of our youth for a few hours or a few days to carry out all kinds of work, whether it be to cut your lawn, bring in your wood, do some gardening or painting, do housework or babysit,” says Brittany Gallant, the co-op’s coordinator for the summer of 2012.

“All you have to do,” she adds, “is call me at 854-3666 or send me an email at brittany@rdeeipe.org and provide me with the details of the work you would want our members to do. Then, I’ll find the youth that is best placed and best prepared to help you out and I’ll provide him or her with the details. The youth will then go to your location at the designated time.”

Among the co-op workers this year are Samuel Bernard and Patrick Bernard of Wellington and Riley Arsenault of Urbainville. Recruiting of workers is continuing.

She explains that after every job, she will contact the clients to ensure that the work was performed to their satisfaction. They will then receive a bill for $11 an hour for each hour worked by each youth. The young members will then receive the minimum wage of $10 an hour; the other $1 will go to the co-op to pay for operational and promotional costs. Any money left over at the end of the summer will be spent on a recreational activity for the members.

Gallant mentioned that the co-op’s worker-members recognize the importance of acquiring work experience, which will of course be useful when it will be time to find jobs later in life. And of course, the youth earn a bit of pocket money for the summer.

Also, over the course of the summer, the youth will learn the basic concepts of the co-op movement, including their democratic philosophy. They’ll elect an executive and manage their co-op’s affairs.

The Youth Services Co-op is a joint initiative of the Conseil de développement coopératif de l’Î.-P.-É. and of RDÉE Prince Edward Island. It will operate for the months of July and August.

-30-

CUTLINE: Riley Arsenault from Urbainville, left, and Samuel Bernard of Wellington, two of the Coopérative service jeunesse’s members, are ready to do any kind of odd jobs for local residents, organiations and businesses this summer.

For more information:

Brittany Gallant
Coordinator
Coopérative service Jeunesse
(902) 854-3666
brittany@rdeeipe.org