9. Why Developed / Problems / Issues Targeted

 What are the main aims or objectives of the initiative? Is it designed to address any particular problems or issues? If so, please specify what these are.
  • To help clients of all ages explore the importance of self-exploration in career development.
  • The creation of Guiding Circles addresses three factors that may impede the full participation of Aboriginal peoples in the Canadian labour force: employment gap, self-awareness gap and cultural gap.

10. Key Features / Content

  • Innovative
  • Effective
  • Promising
 Please describe the main features of the program, focusing in particular on those aspects that are particularly innovative, effective or promising.

Guiding Circles is an interactive, easy-to-use, fun, flexible and holistic career development program designed to guide Aboriginal people toward career paths. The series of workbooks combines traditional Aboriginal worldview with contemporary career development concepts.

Guiding Circles awakens the individual’s sense of selfesteem and self-awareness to uncover personal talents that are transferable to a future career. This happens through a variety of activities that help the individual to tell their story and relate life experiences to career planning.

Youth and adults can become (re)engaged in school or life-long learning as they discover their potential career options and see the relevance of education to job opportunities. The “rings of influence” delivered through the series gives Aboriginal youth hope for a rewarding career.
11. Funding Mechanisms Please describe the type of funding mechanism used for this initiative (e.g. provider’s own budget, service contract, grant, co-funding etc.)

 
12. Organizational Dimensions Please describe any key organizational dimensions of this initiative, e.g. delivery mechanisms, number of trainers, reporting structure etc.  
13. Partnerships Integral or Related Are there any partner organizations involved in the delivery of the initiative? If so, please provide brief details of the partnership arrangements.  
14. Stakeholder Involvement What mechanisms are used, if any, to involve key stakeholders involved in the development, delivery or evaluation of the initiative? Which groups of stakeholders are involved?

Career practitioners are involved in the delivery directly in their own communities. Parents, peers, coaches or others in the community also get involved to aid in the self-assessment process in an activity in Booklet 1 called Expanding the Circle where their perspectives help the individual to complete a self portrait. In Booklet 2 these groups are involved in the review and development of the career path to again offer perspectives the individual may not see when completing this exercise on their own.