‘Future Roots’ offers Halifax teens work experience in their communities

A new youth project in Halifax is getting teenagers out of bed early to shovel snow.

Future Roots, a program run out of Veith House in Halifax’s north end, gives teens aged 14 to 19 an opportunity to gain work experience by performing jobs in their community.

Fourteen-year-old Tata Abule and 15-year-old Fana Jaferidirs are part of the social enterprise. They were thrilled when they woke up to 16 centimetres of snow on Wednesday.

“When I see weather like this I know people are counting on us to do their shovelling.” Abule said.

The duo shovelled out three homes starting at 8 a.m.

“I’m helping out my neighbourhood. I’m shovelling people’s driveways and their walkway and steps. It makes me feel happy because helping people is just a nice thing to do.” Jaferidirs said.

DeRico Symonds, the co-founder of Future Roots, said he was very impressed the pair was up early and ready to go.

“Tata and Fana are some of our hardest workers,” he said. “Whenever or whatever job that we have they are more than willing to go above and beyond.”

School cancellations provide an opportunity for employees to make connections with the people in their neighbourhood.

“I really like helping others, like people that can’t do what they used to do before, like seniors,” Abule said. “It’s really good helping them. I love elderly people for some reason.”

More information on the program is available on the Veith House website.