FDC Project

Improving strategies to adjust and adapt the employability skills of recently arrived, racialized French-speaking women who are survivors of violence.

Mission

To foster the growth of French-speaking immigrant and refugee women and survivors of violence through social and professional integration, so they can contribute to the local economy through:

• providing Toronto’s job market with a quality workforce in various fields, according to their career plans;
• offering their communities quality eco-friendly linens at competitive prices, along with other sewing and clothing services;
• marketing goods and services in various skilled trades.

Purpose and objectives

The overall goal is to sustainably improve participants’ employability by adjusting and adapting their knowledge and skills to market demand.

• Help build a resilient workforce
• Facilitate participants’ access to employment in skilled trades
• Build employability partnerships to support women in their learning

Expected results

• Knowledge acquired and skills developed in employability, mental health/self-management and entrepreneurship
• 40 participants take part in full-service workforce training projects
• At least 28 participants in training leading to skilled trades and apprenticeship opportunities
• At least 8 partners and 4 educational and training institutions engaged
• All 40 participants gain the knowledge to run a self-employment unit (sewing, hairdressing, child care, cooking, etc.)
• Support for individual or collective self-employment
• Better social integration of La Maison’s clients

Intervention approaches

• Workshops on foundational and transferable employability skills
• Mentoring, mental health and personal development support
• Referrals to job search workshops
• Support for apprenticeships in skilled trades and personalized learning plans
• Support in carrying out the employment plan
• Inclusion support: networking, job fairs, internships, mentor-mentee matching
• Support measures for participation (child care, transportation, tuition)
• Certificates of participation; incentives for employers and learners

Skill areas

• Essential skills
• Job search and knowledge of the Ontario workplace
• Self-management and mental health
• Teamwork, leadership and community engagement
• Digital and financial literacy
• Skilled trades: hairdressing, early childhood, sewing, cooking and more
• Business management basics

Collaborations

Organizations leading employability workshops, apprenticeship providers, employer-sponsors, placement agencies, community mobilization organizations and the Joint Monitoring Committee (CCS).