Staff Writer
ntrivuncic@fortfrances.com
With the pandemic forcing many people indoors, a lot of individuals began taking up different hobbies to occupy their time. Some have even registered in courses to either improve their skills or apply to post-secondary education.
Carrie Jolicoeur, a single mom, came to Valley Adult Learning Association (VALA) looking to enrol in the PSW course at Confederation College. Jolicoeur was not entirely sure of her decision, but knew she wanted to go to post-secondary school to gain a diploma in a helping profession, and that is where VALA came in.
There were barriers to Jolicoeur’s application that VALA helped her improve, in the hopes she would be able to pass the Mature Student Test. After contacting Confederation College, VALA discovered a much more suitable program for Jolicoeur, called the CICE program (Community Integration through Cooperative Education). This program is designed to help anyone with learning, social and intellectual ch
Like many across the world in the past year, students enrolled in Confederation College’s Community Integration through Co-operative Education (CICE) program have felt the impacts of COVID-19 but they are still striving to move forward with both their education and their future in the workforce.
The current cohort of CICE students are nearing the end of their two-year program, which gives adults with learning challenges the chance to experience college, and earn valuable work experience. Classes are scheduled to end in April and their job placements begin soon after. While in regular years the program sees students take part in three different work placements, CICE program Integration Facilitator Jenni Morrison said there’s been an knock-on effect from the pandemic that has made getting students into a placement more difficult.