Charlton began his journey with Hope Haven during the 2021-2022 Hope Academy school year. He also spent that summer with us at Career Camp, where he continued to focus on improving his life and employment skills.
An important opportunity within this curriculum is the Work-Based Learning Experience (WBLE), where an experienced employee takes a student under their wing, instructing and mentoring them on how to perform a job, offering the student the opportunity to benefit from the mentor's years of experience.
While at Hope Haven, Charlton was able to complete two WBLEs. During these sessions, he began to discover his interests, gain skills, and learn how to turn these skills into success on the job. His first opportunity was working with Hope Haven's Building Superintendent. Charlton was able to have hands-on experience in all areas of building maintenance and repairs, and he thrived in this position and enjoyed the opportunity.
Charlton realized that he wanted more hands-on experiences and enjoyed jobs where he was active and engaged. An opportunity was presented to him by his Hope Haven Job Coach to participate in a WBLE at a UPS store, where he is flourishing. He has successfully applied many of the life and employment skills learned at Hope Academy and Career Camp. Charlton is enjoying his job, and the feedback from his peers has been incredible. “He is an incredibly fast learner,” said one co-worker. "He can grasp concepts and learn quickly. He works hard and completes all assigned tasks."
Charlton is excited to have this opportunity and continues to look forward to sharpening his job skills, and learning new ones.
If you or someone you know could provide employment opportunities for clients like Charlton, in need of on-the-job training, please contact us at HopeHavenWorks@Hope-Haven.org.