Help YWCA Hamilton encourage high school girls to pursue tech careers

YWCA Hamilton is running a project called “Equitable Pathways to Technical Fields and Skilled Trades” which aims to increase the number of young women entering skilled trades and technical fields by informing them about the opportunities in these fields. This project is focused on high school girls in both school boards across Hamilton. During the first year of this project, YWCA staff developed a list of best strategies to guide high school girls towards career pathways in trades and technology. YWCA staff put together an Action Plan based on what they learned and heard from schools and students and created a series of workshops which can be delivered within schools over lunch hours (30-45 min) to both female students and faculty to inform them about Hamilton’s labour market projections and opportunities for women in skilled trades and technical fields.

The workshops center around themes of Myth Busting: Women in Skilled Trades and Technology, Employment Equity as well as Apprenticeship Opportunities and Considerations. Female mentors and guest speakers are invited to the workshops to talk about realities of working in male-dominated fields and share personal success stories with female students. The commitment would be attending two workshops (one in the Catholic Board and one in the Public Board) some time during Oct 2018 to May 2019. The exact dates, times and locations will be confirmed after our meetings with principals in September. A small honorarium shall be provided as appreciation of your time and effort.

If you are interested please contact Bani at 905-522-9922 X 335 or BRafeh@ywcahamilton.org. Thank you!