“Killing time was killing me,” said Darlene of her life before deciding to take matters into her own hands. As a child, Darlene had been in and out of foster care where she suffered physical abuse. The abuse resulted in and pain in her lower back, which made working fulltime extremely challenging. The physical pain, and emotional turmoil that came with it, led Darlene down a dark path to substance abuse. Eventually she felt like she was no longer being a good mother, and ended up “running away from her children.â€
It wasn’t long before Darlene realized she needed to get her life back in order. While volunteering at the , British Columbia, Darlene learned about the ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï51’s Employ-Ability program (new window), which operates in partnership with the Penticton Indian Band’s .
When Darlene joined the Employ-Ability program (new window) via Distance Learning, she found the staff “very approachable” and the way they did things was “with love and understanding.” It was exactly what Darlene needed. She began learning how to use a computer for job searches and resume writing, but she was particularly interested in the communication aspects, such as and email. These skills helped her with her goal of getting back in touch with her kids. Seeing recent pictures of her daughter on was a source of inspiration for Darlene–it was a sign she was getting back on the right track. Darlene is adamant when she says she “will never take the easy way out again.”
The Employ-Ability program (new window) helped Darlene discover her inner child and has helped her to start a brand new career as a clown, something Darlene says was only natural for her. “All I needed was the nose. I’m cheeky, I maintain my funkiness, and I love kids.” It’s not only children who get to enjoy her new persona. When we interviewed Darlene, she was in the process of preparing for two birthday parties in one day: one for a 2 year old, and the other for an 80 year old.
“They saved my life in so many ways,” says Darlene, when asked of her experience in the Employ-Ability program (new window). “They gave me self-esteem and self-worth. They gave me the skills to find my children on the computer. They gave me this beautiful career. They truly do care!“