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Connected Youth and Elders – Youth Mentor

Job Title: Connected Youth and Elders – Youth Mentor
Reports to: Operations Manager Nunavut
Location: Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, Coral Harbour, Arviat, Whale Cove, Chesterfield Inlet, Naujaat, Iqaluit, Clyde River, Pangnirtung
Salary: $25/hour up to 6 hrs per week
Term: March 2023 with possible extension
Closing Date: Open until filled
*Housing Not Provided*

Be part of the innovative future of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) learning and digital skills training by joining our team. Working alongside rural, remote, Indigenous and other communities, Pinnguaq supports the development of STEAM skills through innovative technology, art, and play. 

The Youth Mentor position is a part time role integrating technology learning and connections with Elders in the community. This role is part of The Connected Elders & Youth Mentor program, which is a unique program delivered in partnership with Help Age Canada and Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre  focused on assisting Elders with accessing everything the internet has to offer. Through interactive sessions, youth will work with Elders to help them learn a variety of applications, internet safety and how to move around the internet.

What does success look like at Pinnguaq?

  • Engaging with thousands of young learners and adults across the country through the delivery of community-centred workshops
  • Designing and deploying interactive experiences, online learning modules, and maker kits to teach STEAM fundamentals to all ages
  • As a member of our delivery team, you’ll engage directly with adult learners, helping them understand new concepts, explore possibilities within STEAM, and develop new digital skills.

What does success look like in this role?

  • Running sessions with a partner, youth mentors will work in an Elder focused environment and work at the learning speed set by the elder participants.
  • Being organized and efficient as well as reporting back to the manager on successes and challenges are critical pieces in the success of this role.
  • Having fun and sharing your technology knowledge with the elders in your community will lead to engaging sessions.

Responsibilities

Programming Responsibilities

  • Using a lesson plan to teach technology skills step by step to Elders who join the program.
  • This could be in a small group setting for scheduled lessons, or one-on-one.
  • Helping Elders become excited about technology, and its benefits by understanding an Elder’s personal interests and helping them understand how technology can support their interests. 
  • Using your judgement and creativity to problem solve or to help an Elder understand a technology concept (like apps or online social environments). 
  • Sharing other supporting materials with Elders like worksheets and tablet accessories to help them learn. 
  • Supporting and encouraging Elders and creating a positive experience for Elders participating in the program. 
  • Setting up and cleaning up the program space before and after each scheduled learning session. 
  • Staffing drop-in hours where Elders can use the tablets and ask you questions or repeat parts of lessons, etc. 
  • Adjusting tablet settings for the best user experience for Elders (for example, increasing the size of the font and enabling other accessibility features of the tablet). 
  • Ensuring that after each scheduled or drop-in session, tablets are securely locked and charging in the designated carts. 
  • Managing the tablet borrowing system: recording which tablet has been borrowed by who and for how long. 
  • Wiping any personal information from a tablet before a new Elder starts using it.
  • Noting and sharing with the Program Manager any challenging parts of teaching and learning for Elders, and recommendations to improve the experience or make teaching and learning easier for Elders. 
  • Meeting with the Program Manager for regular, weekly check-ins. 
  • Attending regular training sessions to build your skills as a Technology Mentor.

Attributes and Qualifications

Equal consideration will be given to the non-academic skills and experiences of candidates.

  • You must be between the ages of 17-30;
  • Experience working with older adults;
  • Willingness to work in a team as well as with a partner in your community;
  • Fluency in Inuktitut preferred, but not required;
  • Able to provide a Vulnerable Sector Screening. 
  • Note: No housing is provided with this role. Applicants must have their own housing.

Pinnguaq Association is strongly committed to fostering diversity within the communities we serve. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our staff including, but not limited to, Indigenous people, women, visible minorities, persons’ with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Pinnguaq Association is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and work environments. Please inform us should accommodation be required at any point in the recruitment process. 

To increase protection for the communities in which we work, we require all staff at Pinnguaq to be fully vaccinated, including a Booster vaccination, along with providing a recent Vulnerable Sector Screening. 

Please note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

APPLY TO:  jobs@pinnguaq.com