We constantly look for ways to improve our programming – and one way we do this is through research. We work with experts in the Social Sciences to not only gauge what makes Career Trek effective, but also to determine what we can do to make our programming even better.
Research shows Career Trek participants are more likely to pursue a post-secondary education than young people who are not involved in our programs.
Career Trek’s Research Collective – who have been doing interviews and surveys of participants since 2001 – also found our programming gives youth more confidence when looking at their career options and allows for an easier transition from middle school to high school.
For this project, data was collected on approximately 75 former program participants and showed an approximate 90 per cent post-secondary participation rate. A project abstract (identifying the protective factors that led to post-secondary education) has been accepted at the 2nd Annual International Resilience Conference scheduled for June 7-10, 2010, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
This study involved interviewing the parents of participants in Career Trek’s core Saturday program. Researchers are analyzing the data now in order to prepare a paper for the Manitoba Counselling Education Journal.
This two-year project, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, involved offering career development opportunities – both community and Winnipeg-based – to Aboriginal students from a semi-remote reserve. During the career development programs, students used digital cameras to document their experiences and created a summary journal using the photographs. Interviews were also conducted with students to explore their experiences during the science career program. The program and some outcomes were presented at a conference for the Centres for Research in Youth Science Teaching and Learning Manitoba projects, and at the Centre for Indigenous Science Education in Taiwan.
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Researchers are exploring young mothers’ perceptions of the barriers existing between them and their post-secondary educational and career goals, as well as the supports available to them along the way. This project, funded by the Fahs-Beck Fund of the New York City Trust, involves interviewing participants enrolled in Career Trek’s The ‘M’ Project. The young women discuss their educational experiences and ideas about post-secondary education and careers, as well as their life histories and experiences. Interviews began in December 2009 and continue in 2010.
Funded by the Canadian Centre on Policy Alternatives, this study involves interviewing the parents of participants living in Skownan First Nation. It also incorporates the communities of Camperville, Pine Creek and Gypsumville. Interviews are ongoing and data collection is expected to conclude by June, 2010.