The 2021 Summer Youth Employment Program has the largest number of students ever. The number is 1,500 according to a release from the Governor’s Office.
The program which was officially opened yesterday in both Tutuila and Manu’a will run for six weeks.
Under the theme “Focus on your Future”, the mission of the Summer Youth Program is to provide quality, innovative teaching and learning experiences that promote academic studies and career awareness.
At yesterday’s opening ceremony, Director of Human Resources Lynn P. Alaimalo emphasized that employment can be beneficial for youth by teaching responsibility, organization, and time management. It also helps to establish good work habits, experience, and financial stability. There are many advantages to working during high school, especially for low-income youth, including higher employment rates and wages in later teen years and lower probabilities of dropping out of high school.
According to Director Alaimalo, “Knowing how to find and keep a job is not only critical for admission to the adult world but also is an important survival skill for which there is little in the way of formal, structured preparation.”
She added, “As long as young people are provided with quality work experience and acquire skills for which there is likely to be employer demand, the program could prove successful.”
In Manu’a, Lt. Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale echoed the same sentiments.
Speaking to about 40 students, the Lt. Governor said, “Working while in high school has been linked to improved academic performance, decreased dropout rates and increased rates of general educational development. Youth who work during high school are more motivated, perform better in school, and are more likely to connect school work with future success.”
He revealed that Governor Lemanu pushed for the program to continue when issues regarding funding for the program started to surface earlier in the year.
The press release said the Lemanu and Talauega Administration will continue to uphold its promise to provide career development opportunities for our youth. Programs that provide our youth with real-world work experience while still in school.
Following training of up to 6 weeks in basic employability skills, students may be offered internship placements of 4 to 12 weeks over the summer period.
Students work 20 to 25 hours per week and are paid the starting hourly wage.
After the ceremony in Manu’a, the Lt. Governor and his entourage visited the sites and school facilities in Faleasao and Tau that will house visitors during the Manu’a Flag Raising Ceremony next month. The Lt. Governor also inspected the historical grounds ‘Avaloa” where most of the activities for this special day will be held including the flag raising ceremony.
