The Victoria Community Development Corporation
SWASP - Student Work And Services Program

From 1998 to 2003 the VCDC has hired students thought the Student Works and Service Program (SWASP) program. These projects are based on the career goals of the student and needs of the community. This program is of great value to students because they received more $50 week for spending money and $1400 for their tuition. This is more than they would normally earn on other summer student programs.The Student Work And Services Program is a Federal/ Provincial Program Administrated by the Community Services Council in St. John's.

Some of the projects undertaken under SWASP are:

Community Service: 1996

Three High School Graduates were employed by the Victoria Community Development for 280 hours each under a Student Work And Service Program (SWASP). Blair Parsons helped the staff at Bethel Academy with the Physical Education Program, While Tracy Russell and Trevor Snow contacted local people for the Come Home Year Committee. They collected the names of former residents now living outside the town and province for the 1996 Come Home Year celebrate.

Community Needs Assessment for 50+ Citizens: 1996

Crista Antle, a 5th year Memorial University Social work student, continued a project she began last year. This summer she built on her research by developing a proposal to address some of the needs identified in the survey. Antle developed a Healthy Living Program for seniors and retired citizens. She also researched various sources of public and private program funding for citizens over the age of 50.

Surveyors's helper: 1997

Joe Warren helped Surveying Student Mr. Jim Peach, measure and evaluate the trails in Victoria. Joe learned about the various aspects of the occupation and what the on the job activities were.

Animal Protection: 1997

Student, Melissa Penney, approached the VCDC to sponsor a SWASP application to do research on animal care in the Trinity Conception Region. Her research determined what kind of regulations now exists to protect pets, farm and wild animals; if there is a need for a local animal protection society, and who might be interested in forming a local chapter of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). This research and the resulting awareness of the importance of animal protection will prove valuable to the development of such industries as sheep farming and tourism.