YESNet

YESNet: Empowering Youth for a Future-Ready Workforce

YESNet is a national initiative dedicated to helping young people overcome youth employment challenges through targeted training and education.

Our program offers entrepreneurial training to enhance adaptability, financial literacy education for promoting independence, and digital skills development to equip young people for success in a changing job market.

We collaborate with organizations across the country to provide free, high-quality educational resources, empowering youth to access essential learning tools in their communities. Additionally, our program includes training sessions for partner organizations on effective resource use and roundtable discussions to share best practices and insights.

Entrepreneurial Training and Curriculum

With youth unemployment on the rise and job stability in decline, many young Canadians, especially those from racialized communities, face barriers to stable, high-paying jobs and often find themselves in temporary or gig work that lacks benefits and security.

YESNet’s entrepreneurial training equips young people with adaptable skills to succeed in a gig-based economy by empowering youth to create opportunities for financial independence, helping them leverage their strengths, innovate, and confidently navigate an evolving job market.

The YESNet Entrepreneurial program stream content equips Employment Specialists with essential tools and resources to expand their programming and support youth exploring entrepreneurship as a career path. Covering key topics like social media marketing, opportunity identification, and mental health for entrepreneurs, it provides a holistic approach to preparing youth for entrepreneurship’s unique challenges and rewards.

The Curriculum & Training

The curriculum features eight engaging modules designed for youth interested in building and sustaining their own businesses. It’s fully customizable, allowing easy adjustments or removal of modules to meet specific needs. Each module includes resources for a dynamic learning experience:

1. PowerPoint Presentation
2. Facilitator’s Guide
   • Module Overview and Alignment: Facilitators can quickly align content delivery with the workshop’s purpose, goals, and learning outcomes, using suggested leading questions to frame discussions effectively.
   • Efficient Preparation and Time Management: Provides practical prep steps to ensure activity materials are ready ahead of time, allowing for smooth, uninterrupted facilitation and optimal time management.
   • Assessment Tools: Key assessment tools are highlighted to help facilitators gauge participant understanding throughout the workshop and prepare for final assessments.
   • Engaging Activities for All Formats: Offers a variety of in-person and virtual activities designed to maintain participant engagement and interest.
   • Detailed Slide Breakdown: Includes a slide-by-slide breakdown, recommended timings, and talking points, helping facilitators deliver a seamless and professional presentation.
   • Participant Workbook Integration: Facilitators are guided on how to reference the workbook, ensuring participant engagement and reinforcing key concepts throughout the session.
3. Participant Workbook
   • Structured Workshop Outline: The workbook provides a clear agenda, leading questions, and defined learning outcomes, giving participants a structured pathway to understanding key concepts.
   • Takeaway Resource: The workbook serves as a valuable reference for participants, containing worksheets, activities, and additional resources they can revisit to reinforce their learning and support their journey in entrepreneurship.
   • Integrated Self-Assessment Tools: Includes various self-assessment activities, enabling participants to evaluate their entrepreneurial potential and reflect on their personal strengths and growth areas.

For a closer look at the entrepreneurship curriculum and access to training materials click here.

YESNet also offers both in-person and virtual training sessions to support staff in effectively using the curriculum. These sessions provide guidance on workshop facilitation and practical tips for making the most of the provided resources.

For any questions regarding the entrepreneurship program stream or to schedule a training session, please contact Kofi Amoama at kofi_amoama@yes.on.ca. 

 

Financial Literacy Education

Financial literacy is crucial for youth, especially as economic shifts limit their access to stable, well-paying jobs. With rising living costs and limited access to financial education, many youth, particularly those from low-income and marginalized backgrounds, face financial insecurity. 75% of teens feel unprepared in personal finance and lacking formal education in budgeting, saving, and debt management, many turn to informal sources like family and social media for guidance.

By providing targeted financial literacy education, YESNet empowers youth from low-income and marginalized backgrounds with the tools for economic security and independence. These foundational skills help them navigate Canada’s high cost of living, fostering long-term resilience and enabling confident contributions as responsible citizens.

The Curriculum & Training

This 2-module curriculum package will provide youth with the skills and knowledge needed to perform basic financial management tasks such as accessing inclusive financial services, saving, budgeting, filing income taxes, understanding debt, navigating credit and protecting themselves against fraud online. It’s fully customizable, allowing easy adjustments or removal of modules to meet specific needs. Each module includes resources for a dynamic learning experience:

1. PowerPoint Presentation
2. Facilitator’s Guide
   • Workshop Overview, Purpose & Learning Outcomes
     This section outlines the module’s objectives and key concepts, clearly defining learning outcomes to measure participant progress and comprehension throughout the workshop.
   • Interactive Learning Opportunities
     The guide features leading questions and a structured agenda that foster discussion and cover all essential topics. It also highlights formative assessments, allowing facilitators to gauge understanding and encourage self-evaluation in preparation for assessment activities.
   • Workshop Preparation Guidelines
     Facilitators receive practical steps for smooth delivery, such as preparing activity materials and polls. A comprehensive list of essential materials and resources, including workbooks, presentations, and useful webpage links, is provided. Additionally, suggested workshop durations help maintain a good pace and allow for adjustments based on participant needs.
3. Participant Workbook
   • Workshop Overview
     The workbook includes the workshop agenda, leading questions, and learning outcomes, all designed to enhance participant engagement and deepen their understanding of financial literacy.
   • Modifiable Format
     Available in Word or Google Docs, the workbook allows participants to complete worksheets and take notes during virtual workshops, making it easy to submit their work online.
   • Takeaway Resource
     Participants can retain key information and worksheets, providing them with a valuable resource to reference long after the workshop has concluded.
     

To explore the financial literacy curriculum and workshop materials, click here.

In-person and virtual training sessions for the Financial Literacy curriculum will also be offered to equip staff with the confidence to deliver the curriculum effectively. Each session provides helpful insights on facilitating workshops and practical advice for fully utilizing available resources.

For inquiries about the financial literacy program or to book a training session, please contact Kofi Amoama at kofi_amoama@yes.on.ca.

Digital Skills Development

The demand for digital and STEM skills has surged by 80%, however we are still noticing a skills gap in Canada, with 60% of employers reporting having difficulties finding skilled workers. The skills gap, which refers to a mismatch between employer needs and job-seeker skills, highlights the need for accessible upskilling opportunities, as we see that access to essential skills training is a contributing factor to high unemployment rates among racialized and Indigenous communities (24.4%) compared to their non-racialized peers (11.9%).

The YESNet Digital Skills Development Program addresses Canada’s skills gap by offering youth and marginalized communities free access to online learning platforms. By providing a flexible, accessible alternative to traditional education, participants can customize their learning journey with in-demand skills and enter the job market faster. These platforms offer industry-recognized certifications, with hands on learning experience, which boost competitiveness, participant confidence, and expand career opportunities which promotes economic mobility and long-term success.

The Platforms

1. Accenture Skills to Succeed Learning Exchange empowers non-profit organization (NPO) partners to deliver impactful, scalable learning experiences that support economic mobility and workforce readiness.
   • Tailored Skill-Building
     Curated courses focus on essential employment, career development & entrepreneurship skills.

• Customizable Learning Path
  NPOs can tailor learning pathways to meet specific participant goals and high-in-demand skills training.

• Progress Tracking & Reporting
  Detailed tools allow NPOs to monitor participant progress and measure program effectiveness.

• Industry-Recognized Certifications
  Participants earn certificates that enhance employability and career growth.

• Multilingual and Inclusive
  Courses are available in multiple languages to support diverse backgrounds.

• Diverse Industry Focus
  Courses go beyond tech, offering skills in retail, health administration, ESL, typing, and digital literacy.

2. AWS Educate equips participants with essential cloud skills and recognized credentials, making it ideal for those looking to enter or advance in cloud-focused careers.
   • Cloud Career Pathways
     Learning tracks in high-demand fields like data analytics, cybersecurity, and machine learning.
   • Hands-On Labs
     Real-world simulations to practice skills in actual cloud environments.
   • Job Board
     Access to job and internship opportunities with Amazon and other tech companies.
   • Industry-Recognized Certifications
     Earn digital badges and certificates for completed modules.
   • Self-Paced Learning
     Flexible, on-demand courses to suit individual schedules.
   • Extensive Resource Library
     Videos, tutorials, and documentation to support continuous learning.

3. Green Skills Passport by EY-Microsoft prepares learners to contribute to a sustainable economy, equipping them with in-demand skills for green careers.
   • Sustainability Curriculum
     The 10-hr program which entails courses on green skills and eco-friendly business practices – training learners for roles in renewable energy, sustainable business, and environmental management.
   • Flexible Learning
     Self-paced, virtual learning format allows participants to learn on their schedule.
   • Certification
     Industry-recognized credential from EY & Microsoft to enhance employability in green sectors.
   • Global Network
     Connects participants to a community focused on sustainability.

4. IBM SkillsBuild 
   • Flexible, Multilingual Comprehensive Learning Paths
     Provides curated courses in high-demand tech areas like AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics – delivered in self-paced format with access to multilingual modules.
   • Expanded Course Access
     Explore content beyond IBM content – access learning activities from IBM-partnered content providers which vastly expands content library.
   • Industry-Recognized Certifications
     Earn IBM and partner platform badges and certifications to boost employability.
   • Hands-On Labs
     Real-world projects to build practical tech skills.
   •  Job Readiness Resources
     Courses and resources for resumes, interviews, and career development.
   • Premium Content Licenses *NPO exclusive*
     Request a Udemy and/or Coursera license from YES to explore Udemy courses on IBM SkillsBuild and access all IBM content on Coursera for free with a YES-registered IBM SkillsBuild account. More details provided during orientation session.
   • Experiential, Cohort-based Learning Opportunities with SkillUp *NPO exclusive*
     IBM SkillsBuild has partnered with training provider, SkillUp, to deliver IBM Fundamental courses in Cybersecurity, AI & Machine Learning, and Data Analytics to provide participants with the flexibility of self-paced online learning with hands-on support and encouragement from cohort-based learning.

Eligibility Criteria

• Access to a stable internet connection
• An interest in professional skills development with a focus on tech

 

Client Registration Process

1. Complete the YESNet Digital Skills Registration Form
   Use the link provided to register and select as many platforms as you’d like to access.
   Note: By registering, you consent to enrollment on IBM SkillsBuild. Please do not create your own account; YES will handle your registration.
2. Platform Registration
   For additional platforms, follow the instructions sent by email to complete registration.
3. Activate IBM SkillsBuild
   Once registered by YES staff, you’ll receive an email to get started. Set up your Credly account through the Learning Activity linked in the email to access digital credentials.
4. Confirm Completion on IBM SkillsBuild
   Mark the Credly activity as complete once you’ve registered your account. Instructions and a video walkthrough is provided as assistance for this step.

5. Orientation Session Sign-Up
   In the confirmation email, select an orientation session date—attendance is mandatory.

That’s it! You’re all set.

For any questions related to the YESNet Digital Skills Development program and its platforms, please contact Liana Jadoonaut at ljadonaut@yes.on.ca for assistance.