A group of teens from low-income families in northern New Jersey are spending 6 weeks learning new skills, and getting valuable on-the-job experience courtesy of the Project Self-Sufficiency Summer Youth Employment Program. The intensive curriculum combines classroom instruction with hands-on work experience at several area non-profit organizations as well as at Sussex County Community College. The 20 youths range in age from 14 to17, and for many, the program is their first experience with paid employment. The teens were recruited for the program based on the level of their household income, access to transportation, and other factors.
Each day features an hour of job skills training at Project Self-Sufficiency followed by work at an area employer. This summer teens are employed at Birth Haven, Project Self-Sufficiency, Sussex County Division of Social Services, Sussex County YMCA, Sussex County Community College, Blue Mountain Day Camp, Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary and the First Presbyterian Church. Responsibilities include clerical work, data entry, research, camp counseling, animal care and other tasks. Transportation is provided to all participants as part of the program.
“Project Self-Sufficiency is delighted to be able to offer these youths the opportunity to gain work experience and learn valuable skills this summer,” noted Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “We are grateful to the area employers who took these teens under their wings, and we are indebted to the funders who made this program possible.”
After the students tumble off the bus each morning, they learn about a variety of workplace topics, including the importance of first impressions, desired characteristics in an employee, interviewing tips, time management strategies, conflict resolution and other subjects. Students are then transported to their individual work sites. “This program is a success because it provides the students with the tools and confidence needed to become competent and successful in the workplace,” commented Haley Ward, Summer Youth Employment Program Coordinator on behalf of Project Self-Sufficiency. “They are required to take on responsibilities they have never encountered. They will walk away from this experience with a deeper appreciation of the value of workplace etiquette, the importance of nurturing relationships with colleagues, and the impact meaningful work has on building skills and self-esteem.”
Two teens are employed at the Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary in Frelinghuysen over the summer. “We are so pleased to be able to participate in the program again this year, and we actually have two of last year’s applicants back with us this year,” commented Kelly Corless Simonetti, Director and Owner of Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary. “They are so enthusiastic and very helpful in all aspects of the sanctuary. They provide support for projects that we were not able to get to due to the overwhelming number of animals we are caring for this year. The teens have helped with animal identification signs for our education programs; they have given the animals we use for education programs special attention, and helped develop our walking trail system. They even picked over 100 pints of raspberries which were sold through our Facebook page to support the sanctuary animals. We hope to have them back next year!”
Barbara Wortmann, Executive Director of the Foundation at Sussex County Community College, is hosting a student employee this summer. The student is involved in a multitude of tasks, from administrative work to filling in for the receptionist. “She has been working on administrative tasks, sending out thank you notes, building Excel spreadsheets and working on organizing different projects. We try to make this experience as valuable to them as it is to us,” noted Barbara.
The Sussex County Division of Social Services employed three teens this summer, handling basic clerical tasks like manning the reception desk, filing, data entry and helping in the county food pantry. Director Carol Novrit, noted, “The students were fun to work with and open to learning new things. They provided much needed help to our Agency. We wish they could be with us all year. ”
The Summer Youth Employment Program is funded by the Hudson Farm Foundation of The Community Foundation of New Jersey, along with a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.
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