The program is offered for those between the ages of 14 and 21.
It is a four-week program.
For Saipan and Tinian, there will be two phases: the first from July 11 to August 5 and the second from August 8 to September 2.
The youth have been selected to work among both private and public sectors.
This past week, the soon to be workers have been undergoing their mandatory orientation and work readiness workshop at the American Memorial Park Visitor Center.
Frances Torres, WIA case manager, tells Variety about this process.
“We do this every year before they enter the workforce and start their training,” she says.
“They receive their orientation from the WIA. People from the Department of Labor and [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration] come to discuss job safety and the Northern Marianas College Community Development Institution preps the workers on things like customer service training and work ethics. We want to prepare them so they will know and understand everything beforehand.”
When asked to describe some positive things about the program, Torres replies, “It gives them something to do during the summer. Also, they can begin to explore the work force and start thinking about different careers and what they want to do.”
Torres states that there will be 462 youth workers for Saipan this summer, 123 for Tinian and 91 for Rota.
She explains how the program is funded through WIA’s youth funding and the participating businesses, regardless of being public or private, do not pay the salary.
Employers must go through an orientation of their own as well.
Today the new workers will have the opportunity to meet with their employers at American Memorial Park.
Soon to be freshman at Kagman High School, Jeromalyn Santos is excited to participate in the summer program for her first time.
Santos explains how her older sister and graduate of KagHS, Amanda, who has partaken in the program for the last three years, encouraged her to try her hand in it.
The KagHS graduate describes her experience with the summer program: “It’s been fun. I worked at a new place every year. It’s a good learning experience and you get great work history afterwards. You also gain a lot of new knowledge.”
Tiara Lane, 15 year old from Saipan Southern High School, will be partaking in the program for her second year in a row.
“My first year was good,” she comments.
“Even though I signed up to work with animals and ended up working in a law office, I still had a lot of fun and a really good time.”
Also a 15-year-old of SSHS, Jose Sablan will be participating for his second year as well.
He describes his experience throughout his first year: “It was alright. I really liked going to work everyday, especially since all of my friends were there as part of the WIA program too.”
Registration for the program usually opens in early May and ends in June.
