What Driven by initiative! implements

Driven by initiative! makes possible the implementation of a collaborative project whose theme comes from the participants' needs; therefore, this program helps develop professional abilities, and boosts self-esteem.

Driven by initiative! works with young adults, and especially young aboriginal adults, on identity development and on redeveloping intergenerational links.

Driven by initiative! offers 3 formulae :

- a discovery workshop (3h)
- a seminar (25h)
- the entire program (50h)

An emphasis on young adults

Driven by initiative! is targeted towards young adults of 15 to 25 years old, more specifically young aboriginal adults, whose life experience or community deals with social insertion problems.

Thus, Driven by initiative! is suitable for young adults in trouble or risking to be, and targets more specifically young adults from aboriginal communities.

Download the brochure here.

How the program works

Groups

Driven by initiative! is implemented in groups of 8 to 15 people, which makes it possible to give concrete solutions to the participants problems while enabling them to reach an empowerment situation.

Driven by initiative! gives back the participants the means to act on their personal situation, which creates positive dynamics within the group and leads to the appearance of new leaders. Meanwhile, the group remains independent in his decision-making process and in the project's unfolding.

Supervision

One or several coordinators, and potentially a local social worker, will do a complete and individualized follow-up on the young adults' work within their community. Thus, the knowledge exchange between the participants and the coordinators reaches its maximum potential. In addition, the coordinators can encourage the participants' own initiatives.

Teaching methods

The selected teaching methods facilitate the knowledge exchange since they are based on the participants' previous experience, a popularized content, and more specifically, a practical implementation of every single taught technique. The latter is the best way to make these techniques stay on the participants' long-term memory so that they can reuse them later in their lives.

Implementing a collaborative project requires first a full study of the participants' problems, and then a cross teaching approach of project management tools, which helps structure and organize the group.

Driven by initiative! : the objectives

• Make the participants realize that each individual can act in favor of positive change
• Transform a latent feeling of helplessness, failure, and misunderstanding into a feeling of success by stimulating and encouraging personal and group initiatives
• Increase the participants' awareness of different local and foreign initiatives and alternatives as a positive empowerment model
• Hand over the participants with the required tools to implement a project
• Directly contribute to the social development of the community
• Perpetuate the project thanks to an emphasis on knowledge exchange and a close follow-up of its implementation

Offered formulas