800 youth including teenage parents, at risk youth and high school students are signed up to work and learn this summer in ASG’s Summer Youth Employment Program.
The age group is 14-24 and the participants have already been selected by the Department of Human Resources theough an application process.
Makerita Enesi, Deputy Director for Training at DHR says the funding to hire the young people comes from the Workforce Innovative Opportunity Act which DHR administers, the Community Services Block Grant under the Department of Commerce and the Governor’s Office.
Usually there’s a classroom component where the participants hear presentations on worth ethic, appearance and general etiquette in the workplace before they are dispersed to their work placements.
But Enesi says they are dispensing of that part this year and the participants will go directly to their workplaces in ASG departments and the private sector after an opening ceremony next week.
The program will run for seven weeks and the participants will earn minimum wages.
The SYEP participants will also take part in the Youth Summit organized by the Department of Youth and Women Affairs.
