Employment Program Participants Spread Joy and Hope
YWCA Metro Vancouver recently launched an exciting new employment program, developed by the Canadian Career Development Foundation. In Motion and Momentum+ is a research program running in locations across the country with 25 community partner agencies and up to 500 participants taking part.
In Motion & Momentum+ helps participants tap into their innate potential and create the life they want through goal setting, action planning and building and extending their skills, strengths and supports.
The program was created for individuals who are feeling stuck or like they have been moving in a direction that is not right for them. The format helps participants recognize their inherent strengths, resilience and potential, and to take steps to live the life they want.
“In Motion and Momentum+ feels like being at a pep rally, but it's your life you're cheering on,” said Kent, a program participant. "It let me push myself into creating again, something I never felt I had time to do while raising my young family. Now I have a team to share my victories with, and strategies to keep the momentum going. I have a practical timeline for where I want to be, and the skills to troubleshoot what is going wrong when I stumble. I know how to check in with myself and evaluate how I'm doing. And it's working! I'm making more art than I have in years.”
The 13-week session began in February and is being delivered online to 10 participants in three modules that focus on recognizing skills and strengths, building a vision for the future and contributing to the community in a meaningful way. The intensive program runs for six hours a day, and asks participant to dig deep into their wishes and dreams. The results so far have been inspiring.
Community Project
To complete the final module, participants were asked to complete a group community project.
After a difficult year with many of us feeling disconnected from those around us, burnt out and exhausted, the current participants wanted to create a project that would spread joy and hope. They created fairy houses, libraries and craft surprises with fortunes and quotes for people to find, and installed them in different neighourhoods around Metro Vancouver. They geocached the project and created the #SpreadJoySpreadHopeIMM hashtag to help spread the word. Everyone is invited to join the scavenger hunt and uncover the messages. Make sure to post a picture on social media and use the #SpreadJoySpreadHopeIMM hashtag!
“It’s been so exciting to see the participants work together by sharing their experiences and see the positive changes happen within the group and in their communities” said Helen Kim, facilitator of In Motion & Momentum+. “This is a great opportunity for anyone who knows that they want more out of life but are not quite sure what steps to take.”
The next program starts in September. Anyone interested can visit ywcavan.org/imm to learn more or contact Helen Kim at imm@ywcavan.org | 604 209 0275 for more information.
