Recruiting Community Partners
- Several members of the Bonnechere River Watershed Project (BRWP)
committee were connected with RCCUP, both as volunteers and through
personal friendships. Knowing each other and being acquainted with both
organizations made it easy to connect.
- Through these connections RCCUP staff contacted the Bonnechere
committee and outlined the Trails to Literacy project, asking if they thought
a partnership was worth pursuing.
- Next came an invitation to BRWP Annual General Meeting. This meeting was
very dynamic and the idea of a Trails to Literacy partnership was met with
enthusiasm and support.
- The BRWP assigned one of its executives the role of liaison with RCCUP.
- This project is still in the visioning process, however, the recruitment of
participants will be starting in September 2002. At that point the 'action'
will begin.
- Similar connections with other community projects, such as a new museum in
Eganville, have raised suggestions that RCCUP become involved with other
projects as well as the Watershed. This is an idea we would like to explore
instead of all participants supporting one project; they could be involved in
one or several.
Previously, we had started working with Ontario Works' Community
Placement program by providing placements for individuals who met our
Literacy & Basic Skills learner criteria. OW is seeking community placements
tied to educational experiences and involving authentic work experience.
With the Trails project, we are able to build on our previous experience in
providing effective OW community placements, to
make this possible. When the participation agreement is
signed, we prepare a training plan for the participant,
based on the learning that will take place and the activities
that will be completed during the placement.
