Skills for Success Day takes place each year in September to raise awareness about the skills everyone needs to participate and succeed in learning, work and life. The Skills for Success often overlap and interact with each other. They are important technical and life skills.
The Government of Canada identifies nine Skills for Success:
- Reading
- Writing
- Numeracy
- Digital
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Creativity and innovation
As the Youth Literacy Coordinator, I get to work with the Skills for Success a lot through our Skill Builders for Youth program. Each year we host a Skill Builders for Youth training where community facilitators from all over the NWT learn in depth about the nine skills. Throughout the training session facilitators get to model and practice skill-building activities that they can use in their community programs. This year we embedded Skills for Success into mitten making. Participants worked on their numeracy, writing, communication, digital, and creativity/innovation skills all while making a pair of mittens! Following the training, facilitators are able to apply for funding to run programs with Skills for Success embedded into the activities.
One of the greatest joys I have in my position here is seeing how creative our facilitators are in embedding Skills for Success into their programs. This was apparent especially when we had gathering restrictions during the Covid pandemic. Last year facilitators hosted a variety of virtual and online programs including a “20 Something” Book Club, A Cookbook cooking group and Paint Nights that took place over Zoom. They also facilitated Learning in the Kitchen programs where youth participants received weekly meal kits to prepare with their families. In addition to all the virtual programs facilitators offered, there were still a lot of great in-person programs such as Teen Paint Nights, a Board Game Café, a sewing program, community sports tournaments organized and led by youth, and a Movie Night partnership with the Hay River Film Society just to name a few.
Are you interested in learning more about our Skill Builders for Youth program or more on Skills for Success? Contact Charlotte at charlotte@nwtliteracy.ca for more information.
- Charlotte Upton, Youth Literacy Coordinator
