ESTEVAN — Southeast Advocates for Employment (SEAE) and the different agencies that are part of it were able to have another successful year.
The organization held its annual general meeting on Sept. 21 at the Western Star Hotel in Estevan, with about 30 people in attendance. The session had a variety of reports, and a PowerPoint presentation that stressed the organization’s success stories and services. Videos were also shown that showcased the organization’s services.
“COVID was a little bit less restrictive, and we have been super busy with the Ukrainian nationals that are coming in,” said Debbie Hagel, the organization’s executive director. “So it was a very busy but a very eventful last year.”
The organization’s fiscal year came to a close at the end of June. By that point, SEAE was already seeing Ukrainians coming in. The agency and its umbrella organizations have been working with the Sunflower Network to help secure housing and acquire household items like furniture and kitchen utensils.
But the agency has been able to keep pace with the increased activity.
The PowerPoint presentation served as an opportunity to remind those in attendance about the number of different programs they have, and for the board of directors to hear more about the achievements that are a source of pride for the staff.
“People are actually often grateful that there is some place that can assist them,” said Hagel.
COVID caused a slowdown in their activity because borders were closed and it was tough for people to immigrate to Canada. Once those restrictions started to be lifted, more people have been coming.
In her report, Hagel noted they work with the most vulnerable of citizens. Despite COVID, they have continued to provide services within the area. SEAE will be strong, ore resilient and optimistic for the future, she said.
The offices in Estevan and Weyburn worked with 102 individuals, assisting in securing long-term, sustainable employment or post-second education. With a funding partnership primarily with the provincial Ministry of Immigration and Career Training, they have had the ability to maximize the potential of people within the communities.
Southeast Newcomer Services, which is one of the SEAE organizations, had another successful year as well, working with 51 registrations and 1,857 inquiries.
“This service not only compliments the existing services we provide to our region, but also has proven to be exciting and continues to challenge our ‘out of the box’ philosophy,” Hagel wrote.
Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) is a partnership that includes a settlement agency, boards of education, and Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada. Hagel described it as a school-based outreach program to help newcomers and their families settle in their school and community.
There are currently 181 students registered with SWIS, and this number is expected to increase as the program moves into rural communities.
A transition program through SWIS has completed its second year assisting newcomer students that are leaving high school and moving forward into the world of work or post-secondary education. The transition program worked with 20 students during the past year, including five graduates.
The newest program, Youth Employment Services, works with youths between 15 and 30 to secure full-time or part-time employment.
“I’m very grateful for the team players that we have in this organization. They all work as a team, and that’s what makes our organization so successful. Good, hard-working staff that believes in community,” said Hagel.
