Mission

Valoris wants to encourage entrepreneurial projects in Québec’s elementary and secondary schools located in disadvantaged areas in order to increase students’ self-esteem through action.  

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

Enable the greatest number of young people in elementary and secondary schools located in disadvantaged areas to have a meaningful experience by participating in entrepreneurial projects as often as possible during the time they spend in school.

TARGET CLIENTELE:

• Young people attending Québec elementary and secondary schools located in disadvantaged areas
• Personnel working with young people in the targeted schools (administrative personnel, teachers and non-teaching personnel in targeted schools)

LINES OF DEVELOPMENT:

1. EVALUATION AND PUBLICATION of benefits and success factors related to entrepreneurial projects in targeted schools in order to increase awareness of the importance of undertaking entrepreneurial projects to help young people in disadvantaged areas to increase their self-esteem through action.

• Evaluate the benefits and success factors of entrepreneurial projects
• Produce information tools to present these data
• Publish the benefits and success factors of these projects for the target clientele

2. RECOGNITION OF ENTREPRENEURIAL PROJECTS that have achieved distinction in the target schools and recognize it to motivate entrepreneurial initiatives undertaken in these areas.

• Design and implement recognition mechanisms  for these projects (certification and escouades)
• Produce communication tools to highlight entrepreneurial accomplishments in these areas
• Participate in recognition activities to underline the entrepreneurial accomplishments of young people in these areas

3. RALLYING of target groups around our mission in order to foster involvement in the implementation of entrepreneurial projects in schools located in disadvantaged areas.

• Help the actors in targeted environments to network with organizations working in student entrepreneurship
• Spread knowledge of winning practices used in guiding entrepreneurial projects
• Provide training for resource persons on the benefits and success factors of entrepreneurial projects in disadvantaged areas
• Create solid and lasting partnerships with partners who support our mission
• Develop guidance tools

WHY TARGET DISADVANTAGED AREAS?

Because they face a number of problems.

“To give priority to action in disadvantaged communities, where the accumulation of risk factors among young people is more compromising for their future.” [Translation] – (Réunir Réussite, Fondation André et Lucie Chagnon, http://www.reunirreussir.org).

Because in such areas there are more factors that make young people vulnerable. (Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport)

“Research shows us very clearly that poverty is a key contributor to the reasons young people drop out of school, out of their social milieu and out of life. It is a major stumbling block to development, especially if it is experienced intensely at a young age.” [translation] – Camil Bouchard, professor and researcher in the psychology department of Université du Québec à Montréal,  “Une science folle de ses enfants. La recherche sur le développement des enfants occupe une place de premier plan au Québec. Et cela donne des résultats,” Québec Science, special issue, (August-September 2010), p. 7.

Because the dropout rates are higher in these areas. (Statistics Canada)

Because entrepreneurship is a key.

Entrepreneurship is the means for poor people to improve their lot. – Paul-Arthur Fortin, “La culture entrepreneuriale, un antidote à la pauvreté,” 2002.

“If a child met with an adult who was fond of him or her every day, the child’s development would be assured . . . One of our recommendations was to reduce child poverty by half.” [translation] – Camil Bouchard, professor and researcher in the psychology department of Université du Québec à Montréal,  “Une science folle de ses enfants. La recherche sur le développement des enfants occupe une place de premier plan au Québec. Et cela donne des résultats,” Québec Science, special issue (August-September 2010), p. 7.

Because data collected in the 2008 Québec Entrepreneurship Contest survey, to which 3000 people responded, as well as experience on the ground show clearly that:

• The benefits observed are greater for young people in disadvantaged areas.
• Entrepreneurship fits well with the realities of these environments.
• Entrepreneurship offers the possibility of reaching a maximum number of young people in a short time, at little cost.