STAMFORD, Conn. The city of Stamford will once again be putting its teenagers to work after the Mayors Youth Employment Program was launched Thursday.
The program is designed to offer students a real working experience. It's a complete process starting with filling out an application, submitting a resume and doing an interview and ending with a final report outlining the work they did.
I gained valuable work experience that will provide me with a foundation for my professional life, Hiram Holloway said of his time at Capital Financial Management. He entered the program not knowing what he wanted to do but now plans to pursue a career in business after learning basic accounting skills last summer.
Carolyn Armas was surprised by her time at SoundWaters, where she learned to work with animals and kids and how to overcome her initial fears. The job was interactive and fun. At times, it didnt even feel like a job, she said.
Last year, the program provided 30 students with jobs. It will try to double that number this year after receiving positive feedback from the organizations that participated. The number of available jobs depends on donations. Each student is paid $2,300 for the summer.
The program is beneficial not just for the experience the students gain but also for their planning for the future, said David Harris, manager of Youth Services for Workplace Inc. Once students have an idea of what they want to do, it motivates them to attain their goals, Harris said.
All high school students ages 16 to 18 are eligible to apply. The students will be required to work about 28 hours per week from June 25 through Aug. 10.
Applications for interested students are available on the citys website. They must be completed and returned to the citys Human Resource Department by April 30. To provide an internship position or to become a sponsor for the program, contact Michelle Lappas, program director, at 203-977-0830.
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