Convince your child

From kindergarten through to grade 12, your child’s after-high-school plan has likely been to pursue more school. If your son or daughter, like many other young adults, is hesitant to do something different, proposing Katimavik may catch them off guard.

Now that you know all of the advantages of the Katimavik program, you want your son or daughter to know the same. Here are a few tips to help convince them that Katimavik is a viable option and a valuable experience:

1. I don’t want to move out. I was hoping to go to xyz university or college in town…

Katimavik will be an intensive, life-changing adventure. Feeling nervous about leaving home for the first time is normal.

Reassure them that you will be just an email away and over 30,000 other young people have taken the same leap to participate in the program. If they’re interested, they can speak with an alumnus or alumna who can walk them through the program.

2. But all my friends are going to XYZ next year. I will miss them and am worried that we will lose touch.

Tell your friends that you can keep in touch and send lots of pictures. You can use the Katimavik blog, Facebook and Twitter to stay connected. You can post images, stories and videos online so that your friends can follow you on your adventure. Six months goes by really quickly and just imagine all the stories you can tell when you’ll get back.

3. But I know what I want to study and I don’t want to waste my time. I can go into my academic program now and finish sooner!

Katimavik is anything but a waste of time. In the program, you’ll get the chance to learn outside of the classroom. You’ll also gain valuable work experience that can put you ahead of your classmates when you enter university.

The well-beaten path is not as straightforward as you may think. Studies have shown that the decade after high school is full of detours and that is okay. After constructive gap year, you’ll not regret having taken some time away from the school room to live and learn in the real world setting before going back to school. 

Did you know that the 6-month program can get you school credits? Therefore, you have the possibly to participate in Katimavik and work towards a degree at the same time.

4. Learning through volunteer service? Sounds like a drag!

Watch videos of other young Canadians talking about their valuable experience with Katimavik. Or suggest that they talk to an alumnus or alumna for more details.  The Katimavik experience is anything but boring.  You are still learning… but the context is completely unlike anything you have ever experienced before!