Five hundred young men and women, ages 16 to 24, reported Tuesday to 41 worksites in ASG, the private sector and non profit organizations. They are participants o the Summer Youth Employment Program which was officially opened Monday.
Denise Faamasino Tuitoelau, the Chief of WIOA, (Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act) at the Department of Human Resources, says this year the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa is one of the 41 worksites for the summer training program.
SYEP provides on the job training opportunities for our youth. Participants are generally put in worksites that match their career interest and studies. Another focus is to upskill youth who have encountered barriers in their education, for example high school drop outs or teen mothers.
About 20 of the worksites are businesses and non profit organizations while the rest are government departments and semi
autonomous authorities.
This year’s theme is E.A.R.N. Experience, Achievement and Readiness Now. The program ends July 31st.
The participants work four hours a day Monday to Friday and are paid the minimum wage of $7.25. Tuitoelau explains that in the past departments and businesses have hired participants on a permanent basis at the end of the program. So not only does the program provide valuable on the job training for participants, it also becomes a source that businesses and government agencies use to select employees.
At the opening ceremony on Monday, Acting Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr, spoke to the participants about the scourge of drugs impacting the territory and urged that they focus on their future and stay away from drugs.
