Creating an organization that provides support for young people by young people
It was just three years ago that Katie Heggtveit had a vision of how she could make a difference. Today, Bootcamps for Change supports at-risk young people all over Canada by providing them with access to both industry education as well as fitness programming. "As a 20-year-old undergrad student I felt like I was fighting an entrepreneurial fire inside of me - I figured I couldn't make a real impact until I was older, but then I saw a call-to-action while doing research for a foundation in Toronto working with homeless youth. I saw that there was a problem and I wanted to try and fix it. Bootcamps for Change materialized from there."
What is unique about the Bootcamps for Change model is that it provides support for young people, by young people. Most of the support staff at Bootcamps for Change reflect the age of the people they serve. More than 250 students have worked at Bootcamps for Change to provide the supports needed, including a number of students from the MSc Kinesiology coursework-based program doing their practicum placement. “We really found that these students contribute not only important work for the organization, but also valuable perspectives which creates this virtuous circle of support for at-risk young people as well as providing important hands-on education and experiences for students participating in their internship or practicum placement.”
“Students bring a fresh set of eyes from interdisciplinary backgrounds as well as being close in age to those they serve. The value of their contribution to Bootcamps for Change is indescribable, they’re amazing.”
Once on a placement, Bootcamps for Change has a flexible approach to connecting practicum students to the work that matches both the needs of the organization and the student. There are four key areas of projects: research, social media, youth programming as well as partnerships and development. Kinesiology students have helped with providing services such as fitness programming, building out educational platforms and supporting the mentorship program by developing a strong social media presence. “Students bring a fresh set of eyes from interdisciplinary backgrounds as well as being close in age to those they serve. The value of their contribution to Bootcamps for Change is indescribable, they’re amazing.” And what’s more, at Bootcamps for Change they found that students often stay on in some capacity to support the organization. More than half of the students continue to volunteer with the organization long after their practicum placement is finished.
Students bring long-term value to organizations through the practicum model
This type of practicum placement provides another benefit to organizations. It can serve as a pipeline of young talent that plants the seed for important connections now, and in the future. Building relationships with students before their careers start becomes the basis of a valuable network as their careers bloom. Katie’s advice for other organizations thinking about this as an option: “Really get to know the students, understand what their goals are and help them feel valued – that’s how everyone can get the most out of this new relationship.” Katie also believes in the importance of sharing back with students what impacts their contributions made, “truly, the students I’ve talked to get emotional when we show them what has become of their projects and the positive impact on a vulnerable group. Without them, these great outcomes could not have happened.”
Katie has transitioned to role of advisor with Bootcamps for Change as she embarks on a new position at the University of Waterloo as the manager of Greenhouse’s Workplace Innovation program. In this new adventure, she’s bringing her skills, expertise and experience in the social entrepreneurship space to continue to connect young people and students with social projects that can make a difference at other non-profit organizations and for the students in the program.