Youth Employment

YouthForce employs youth and young adults (ages 15-30) from Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterloo and the surrounding area facing barriers to employment.

Explore this page:

What is YouthForce?

YouthForce is a Social Enterprise owned and operated by Kinbridge Community Association since 2019.

We provide the following services:

  • Lawn & Garden Care
  • Commercial Cleaning
  • Event Staffing & Support
  • Special Projects (at request)

What makes us unique?

Our support and training! YouthForce staff  receive job skill training, personal and professional development opportunities, and increased financial stability that encourages community contribution and builds belonging.

We operate year-round, emphasizing the summer months when youth urgently seek employment.

Two girls holding certificates

Youth Reached

Youth Employed

Community Contracts

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Employees Experience

  • Personal and professional development
  • Increased financial stability and literacy
  • Enhanced employability 
  • Improved health
  • Improved housing security
  • Positive social networks
  • Connection to the community 

Employees Receive

  • Subsidized police checks (for participants 18+) and mandatory certifications like First Aid & CPR
  • Subsidized transportation via. Grand River Transit, uniforms, and PPE
  • Access to a wide variety of live training and workshop opportunities 
  • Access to professional and peer mentorships and professional networks

“When I worked with YouthForce, I was still fairly new in Canada. I had just finished high school and had no job experience. YouthForce is an amazing initiative to help students just like me who had no experience and wanted to work in the community.”

Team Member

YouthForce, Waterloo

“Without YouthForce I would not have found my co-op placement at Kinbridge. Once I started my placement, I loved it so much that I didn’t want it to end. When they wanted to add me full time as a Community Centre Host, I couldn’t wait to get started.

YouthForce changed everything for me and I got my dream job because of it!”

Team Member

YouthForce, Cambridge

“I learned how to manage money (one of my plans is to invest my money to get braces). I learned how the bus system works, and how to use Google Maps more effectively to get from job site to job site. We did lots of projects and hard work which helped us learn discipline and dedication.” 

Team Member

YouthForce, Kitchener

Need help? Hire YouthForce!

When you book a job with YouthForce, you help us create revenue that expands our program for future participants.

Hire the YouthForce Team

Our passionate and dedicated youth team is here to help transform your space through our lawn and garden services commercial cleaning, event support, and other special service requests.

YouthForce Provides:

  • top-notch services
  • competitive pricing
  • a trustworthy and reliable team
  • on-site supervisor support for the youth
  • personal customer service support
  • free service quotes

Additional benefits include:

Social & Economic Impact: knowing my decision contributes to creating jobs for youth and young adults in my community

Skill Development: witnessing the team gain valuable work experience

Community Support: feeling a sense of pride in supporting a local social enterprise that prioritizes community contribution and belonging

Positive Change: understanding my choice impacts the lives of these young workers, potentially shaping a brighter future for them

Environmental Consciousness: our services like hand-weeding incorporate eco-friendly practices with a commitment to environmental responsibility

Pride in Space: the satisfaction of a well-maintained lawn and garden, and the ability to give back to others in the community who may not be able to afford these services

Connection and Inclusion: creating connection and inclusive employment opportunities within your community

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Summer 2024 Pricing

 $56.50 per hour (price includes a team of 2-8 workers) 

Our Services:
Mowing and trimming
Hand weeding
Leaf/debris bagging and removal
Soil, mulching, planting
Special Requests

Details: Site visit and quote included in price. YouthForce provides labour, and the customer offers equipment like lawnmowers, trimmers, waste bags (bags can be supplied by YouthForce at an additional cost).

 

Contact Information

Amie Sider – YouthForce Development Manager
Email: amies@kinbridge.ca
Phone: (226) 789-0461

Josh Medeiros – YouthForce Coordinator 
Email: joshm@kinbridge.ca
Phone: (519) 465-9058

Client Testimonial

“Absolutely fantastic. We can’t believe this service exists and all they did for us. They really seem to know what they are doing. They took care of the weeds, the overgrowth, and redesigned the garden beds.

We only have positive things to say! We hope more people in the community can hear about it and benefit from it.” 

– Community Member, Cambridge

 

Client Testimonial

“SHOW enlisted the help of YouthForce to clean out the storage area of the basement. The team reorganized shelves, carried out some heavy furniture, and set up a market of donated items for residents to look through.

Tasks such as these are often overlooked or put off due to a lack of time from full-time staff. SHOW was delighted to not only have the basement cleaned out but to also support an amazing community organization.

Thank you so much YouthForce for all your hard work and to Kinbridge Community Association for all the amazing work that you do in the community.”

– Supportive Housing of Waterloo (SHOW), Waterloo

Client Testimonial

“It was a wonderful experience to work with YouthForce this summer! The team was punctual, work-oriented, and reliable. The work was outstanding, detailed, and complete. We will definitely work with YouthForce in the future.”

– Quality Clean & Scherer Chevrolet Buick GMC

Get in Touch!