Local youth are taking advantage of a program to help them take the first steps toward career readiness.
Thirteen youngsters are working in area businesses to gain useful experience in exchange for summer help.
The program, Summer Jobs and More, is operated by the Venango Training and Development Center. The center works to help disabled and disadvantaged individuals achieve their highest potential.
“We want to let youth know about local jobs and learn to engage with employers,” said Colleen Stuart, chief executive director of the training center.
The Summer Jobs and More program gives the youth not only a job for the summer but also a job readiness training before the work began.
Employers provide a work site and supervision, and the program provides youth interested in working in that business. The program is a 180-hour work experience.
“We also gave the students 15 hours of work readiness training,” said Juanet Shefchunas, community employment director for the training center.
The center also gave the participants training in what they call “soft skills” that would be needed to work successfully at a job.
Local businesses signed up to be a part of the program, and the employees were matched with employers after paperwork was completed.
“We had pretty good success matching the participants with their interests,” said Shefchunas.
“We are really trying to give people jobs that they want to have,” said Stuart.
The program participants’ wages have been paid for by several grants, and one of the program sponsors is the United Way of Venango County.
“These youths are given job shadowing and experience at an earlier age that they wouldn’t get without this program,” said Will Price, executive director of the United Way of Venango County.
“Not only do the participants get experience, they develop more of a work ethic and learn what it means to have a job,” said Price.
Betsy Kellner is the executive director of the Venango County Museum.
“We are benefiting greatly from this program,” said Kellner. “It is helping us do work that otherwise wouldn’t get done.”
The youth are working at a mix of non-profit organizations and businesses in the area.
Jan Graham, owner of Island Winds of Oil City, added that the participant working at her store is very helpful.
Shania Irwin, 16, works at the training center through the summer work program, and she has a variety of tasks that include data entry, payroll, shredding paper and helping with the front desk.
“I like learning how to work in an office,” said Irwin.
She added that she likes spending time working with computers, and she feels that will be a valuable skill set.
The staff in the office where Irwin works all agreed she is a hard worker and an asset to the office.
“I want to know that I’ve made a difference in these kids’ lives,” said Shefchunas.
“We really want to serve more youth,” said Stuart. “We want this to build.”
