By Steve Thomas
Observer Nevis Editor
(Charlestown, Nevis) – Applications are now being accepted for the sixth annual Summer Job Attachment Progamme 2008, according to a press release from the Youth Division in the Department of Social Development.
Secondary school students from the 4th to 6th forms are being urged to apply. Application forms must be filled out at the department’s offices on Government Road, which are located immediately after the hospital and opposite the GMBC Building.
Applications should be made as soon as possible.
“We will take up to 60 entrants this year. We will only consider the first 60 applicants so come on in and apply early,” said Ms. Christina Stoney, Youth Officer and Peace Corps Volunteer who heads the programme. “It provides pre job training provided in collaboration with Helping Our People Excel Organisation (HOPE) Nevis this year, work experience and a stipend of $200 a week, $100 of which is provided by the Department of Social Services and $100 of which will be provided by the employer.”
The Programme, which was designed for an eight week period, will run for six weeks this year from July to August to accommodate a shorter summer. Under the programme, students with limited or no employment experience are introduced to a variety of career opportunities where they develop practical skills and professional ethics and learn more about seeking and obtaining work.
Ms. Stoney urged business places to contact the Department if they were available for an entrant this year. She explained that the programme offered benefits to both the students and the employers.
“At the end of the six week period, the employers are under no obligation to hire the students full time but they may do so at their own discretion if it works out for both parties. So at the end of six weeks the students would be able to walk away with $1,200 and a valuable six weeks of training; [stayed] busy over the summer and [learnt] something about themselves, about Nevis and about the world of work.
“Employers get the opportunity to give back to their community and help the participants to become good working adults in the future …We are looking for employers from all work sectors. The benefits to you would be a six week fulltime worker over the summer and 50 percent of their [the participants] stipend will be paid by the government,” she said.
For more information, Call 469-1273 for Miss Stoney or Director Ms. Sandra Maynard.
