In today’s interview on Community Hour, journalist Yuliia Kovalenko talked with Rhonda Taylor, Executive Director of Career Trek. Career Trek is a Manitoba-based charitable organization that works with local communities across the province to identify training needs and career opportunities for young people. 

Taylor is very passionate about her work. She has spent most of her career in the not-for-profit sector. It’s a priority for her because she wants to give everyone the opportunity to access whatever they need to succeed.   

Taylor works with many newcomers and has heard the stories of the challenges and difficulties newcomer youth face in Canada.

One of the most common is the challenge of connection to peers, at school, and in the community. But according to Taylor, the main challenge is the language barrier. 

To overcome these challenges Career Trek provides youth with the opportunity to explore careers and gives them an understanding of the jobs that are available, and the pathway to get there. 

“We are doing it through hands-on activities. If language is difficult for some clients, we get them doing activities to let them experiment with the job, so they are trying out different tasks and activities related to the job," says Rhonda Taylor, Executive Director of Career Trek. 

Rhonda emphasizes the importance of investing in young Winnipegers: “We do need to invest in kids for a brighter future for our city as well as for our community. The goal is to best prepare them to make those decisions as they get older." 

Rhonda's message for youth is to say “Yes” to opportunities and be open to learning new skills.