Students from Northern College ’s Developmental Services Worker program, participants from the Cochrane Temiskaming Resource Centre (CTRC) Client Support Service and the Northern College Alumni Council are preparing to launch an innovative pilot project that will see CTRC participants creating a variety of gift kits that will be available for purchase within the college community.
The CTRC, a community organization that provides support, services, programs and resources to individuals in the Cochrane and Temiskaming districts with developmental disabilities, has a partnership with Northern College, which sees the CTRC bringing CTRC participants to the college to interact with Developmental Services Worker students. Students gain experience working with the participants through designing, organizing and supervising activities that meet each participant’s unique skills and needs. Participants benefit by learning valuable life skills and interacting with the college community.
The concept of the new gift kit initiative was conceived of by Developmental Services Worker students, CTRC participants and program organizers, including Noreen Smith, Core Faculty of the Developmental Support Worker program. The initiative will see participants preparing a variety of gift kits with the assistance of Developmental Services Worker students. Gift kits will be available for such occasions as birthdays and exam preparation, or as a general nicety. Kits include feel-good items like coffee and candy, as well as practical items like sticky notes and pens. Kits will be available for purchase by Northern College students, staff and others in the college community.
“This initiative shows the strength that the CTRC participants have, and that they can give back to the community,” said Bernard Jolette, a Professor with Northern College’s School of Community Services. “The quality of the gift kits is great.”
“It’s a win-win for everybody,” said Nicole Gingras, Development Officer at Northern College. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our Developmental Services Worker students to gain some practical experience, for the CTRC participants to learn new skills and contribute to the community, and for the Alumni Council and Developmental Services Worker program to raise some funds. It’ll also be a great morale booster for the college community.”
The gift initiative will officially launch on October 29th, with gift kits prepared by CTRC participants being sold in the Northern College foyer from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. All funds raised by the pilot project will be shared between the Northern College Alumni Council and the Developmental Services Worker program.
Feature Picture:
Back: DSW Student Amber Hudye, Professor Bernard Jolette, DSW Student Rachel VanderVecht
Front: CTRC Participants Jean-Pierre Riopel, Nic Hoffman Roy, Jason Galoway, Tina Ouellette
CTRC participants display some completed gift kits, with Northern College Developmental Support Worker students and professor Bernard Jolette.
