Posted on 12/14/2011, 8:05 am, by mySteinbach

Provincial Green Team grant applications are now available for not-for-profit groups, universities, colleges, school divisions, schools, hospitals and rural municipal governments to hire youth between the ages of 15 and 29 for summer jobs in Manitoba. This announcement was made by Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau.

“Many students rely on summer jobs to help them pay their education costs,” said Rondeau. “The Green Team helps young Manitobans to earn those funds, while gaining valuable skills and experience working on projects that benefit our communities.”

Employers participating in the Urban and Hometown Green Team programs create summer employment opportunities that focus on improving neighbourhoods, promoting community involvement and helping develop young leaders. This can include projects that support recreation, housing rehabilitation, neighbourhood safety, park and riverbank cleanups, and public education related to community development.

Priority is given to projects that give older youth and students the opportunity to supervise teams of younger Manitobans (ages 10 to 15) while they are doing volunteer work to improve their communities.

“The Green Team provides multiple benefits to youth, their employers and their communities,” the minister said. “Engaging young people at an early age fosters a respect for the community and makes it more likely that youth will continue to be involved in their community as they get older.”

Organizations can hire up to four young people between May 1 and Aug. 31, and up to four more between June 15 and Aug. 31. There are two intakes for applications, with deadline dates of Jan. 16 and March 8.

Since 2000, Green Team grants have supported more than 13,800 jobs throughout the province.

Interested employers can obtain grant applications and additional information at www.manitoba.ca/healthyliving/youth/employers/greenteam or by calling 204-945-3556 in Winnipeg or 1 800 282-8069 (toll-free).