Riverdale work-study program hits ground running

“Can I have this keyboard?” asked Chris Reid, 16, who recycles electronics instead of attending class at Riverdale High School. “I’m going to exchange my keyboard at home with this new one,” he said.

Just one week ago, over 194 boxes filled with computer monitors, keyboards, radios, printers and televisions sat in four warehouse-like rooms at Riverdale High School in Pierrefonds.

So far, about half of the boxes—over 1,000 monitors and 1,000 computers—have either been put away for refurbishment or sold to equipment recycling companies.

And it’s all been done by kids 'at risk' of dropping out of high school.

Last January, Riverdale High School became the first English-language school to offer the Centre de Formation en Entreprise et Recuperation’s work-study project. The project, officially recognized in March 2007, is one of 20 projects province-wide promoting environmentally-themed programs for “at risk” kids, said Antoinette Scarano, director of work-study programs for the organization.

“I wasn’t doing so well in my old school,” said Andrea Snow, 16, from Macdonald High School, as she stacked computer parts to be pressed, bound and wrapped. “But I always liked computers, so they thought I’d do well here.”

Students are recommended for the program by their guidance departments, and receive an Attestation of Skills by the Ministry of Education after three years.

“Now they have a skill, they can go out and earn a decent living because they are able to organize materials and manage people,” said Joe Keane, director of the work-study program at Riverdale.

The work-study program has grown from 12 Riverdale students in its first year to

27 students from various high schools including Beurling Academy, Lakeside High School, Beaconsfield High School, and Macdonald High School.

“We realized that (some of our students) they’re not ready for professional training or to go into CEGEP,” said Riverdale principal Tom Rhymes. “We needed to put them somewhere where they can mature and come out with something marketable.”

Computer monitors, keyboards, radios, printers and televisions are collected from Bureau en Gros locations all over Montreal and brought to Riverdale by truck. Some recycled computer parts end up back in the schools, but most are sold to various recycling companies.

“When they started, they were old children,” said Rhymes. “Now they’re adults.

They’ve learned to create an adult work environment where they understand their responsibilities.”

“The most important thing in a program like this is building relationships,” Keane said. “When a kid like Chris needs something, I’ll give it to him if I can because it keeps them honest. Now he doesn’t have to go steal a keyboard.”

“These kids are not on an academic stream, but this is not the end of their education—it’s the beginning.”