Petites-Mains

Mission

Petites-Mains' mission is to help people in difficulty, especially immigrant, single-parent and unemployed women, to get out of isolation, and learn a trade, in order to promote their integration into the labour market and their integration into Quebec society.

Services

Employment support and training

• Paid training in an integration enterprise for 6 months (35h/week):
  • Industrial Sewing Machine Operator;
  • Training as a cook’s helper, catering and customer service;
  • Office clerk.
• Women: A Step Towards Employment: program to help participants overcome barriers to employment and successfully integrate into the labour market. Paid program for immigrant women aged 18-30. Two possible tracks:
  • Exploration track: 14 weeks, including three weeks in an internship ;
  • Experience component: 18 weeks, including 10 weeks of work experience;

Welcome and support for newcomers

Au Québec, chacune sa place ! : This program aims to support the personal and professional development of immigrant women. It allows women with little work experience to learn the basics of Quebec society in order to find their place and integrate. Program for immigrant women, 2 mornings/week in francization and 3 mornings/week in workshop with a counsellor (workshops on various subjects, such as the job market, tenant’s rights, self-esteem, etc.).

Francisation

• Integration program for visible minorities: this program allows young women considered as visible minorities, far from the labour market and with a basic level of French, to learn French through intensive courses or to participate in an integration program while taking part in one of Petites-Mains’ trainings (industrial sewing or cook’s assistant).
• Free part-time francization courses for immigrants. Possibility of financial aid and allowance for daycare expenses.

Daycare and respite care

Childcare centre “Le Royaume des Petites-Mains”: priority places for people registered in one of the programs and training courses of Petites-Mains.

Volunteering and Volunteer Centers

Volunteers are needed to support women in training (e.g. French conversation), in administration, in the sewing factory or at the organization’s coffee shop.

Food aid

• Food support offered to the clients of Petites-Mains;
• Free or low cost meals offered by the café-resto of Petites-Mains.

*** We offer our integration programs to people in need, mainly immigrant women, however, our programs are also open to men. Our integration programs are offered to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and refugees. Other programs such as the French courses or the employability program are reserved for immigrants with a valid immigration status.

*** All services are free of charge, and some courses offer financial compensation.