ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS

Program Phases

The community-based programs have three phases, each phase lasting about one year:

1. Design program and acquire resources (hardware and funding)
2. Implement the program
3. Support sustainability with the program partner

Key Success Factors in Setting up a Partnership

• open and honest communication
• shared values
• clear and transparent expectations and boundaries

The goal of iSisters’ programs is that the partner agency is independently running the learning program two to three years after beginning phase one.

Multi-year program phases add to the reliability and sustainability of iSisters’ programs. The first phase involves building the learning centre and designing the learning program in collaboration with the community partner. A customized program is designed based on the needs of the learner unique to that community partner.

The second phase is implementation. The program is implemented, evaluated, and refined. Typically, iSisters spends a year onsite delivering the program with the partner, managing required changes, and mentoring the partner and participants.

In the third phase, iSisters works with staff at the partner agency to complete knowledge transfer and to prepare the partner to deliver learning programs independently of iSisters.

Community partners, such as Tungasuvvinat Inuit, Youville Centre and IWSO, are not charged for the products and services provided by iSisters. Through corporate and community partnerships, iSisters is able to provide the program (including computer lab and onsite teaching) at no charge to the partner or learners. All technical requirements are set up, with the support of iSisters, at the beginning of the project.