Every business in this community should be proud of their brothers and sisters in business for the job they have done—becoming mentors for some of our high school youth, or allowing qualified youth come into their business as apprentices and helping them learn the ins and outs of having a job, being responsible person with the job, learning about the world of work, and being accountable for getting to work on time, with the proper clothes, and being able to successfully keep and excel in the job. The program, introduced into the community by Family and Youth Initiatives, is up and running and very busy matching students to job opportunities.

Pat Banaszak, director of FYI, exclaims, “What we are doing is help our youth to know there is a great world of work out there and we want to help each youth involved understand that they can explore what they might want to do and to work in that area for a while to see if this is the career field for them. We are looking for a wide variety of businesses to open their doors to an apprentices for these kids.” As the program evolves, we will be able to place more youth in area businesses. Banaszak states, “Our community is very diverse in youth and careers they want to pursue. We have a youth who wants to be a locksmith and another a lawyer. So far we have placed 25 youth in companies who will mentor and train them in that particular. We are excited at the opportunities this is bringing to our youth and community.”

Youth from 16 to 21 who are still in high school or college can sign up to apply for the program. Those under the poverty level with total family income and encouraged to apply and those with a disability and also encouraged to see if there if a job for you. “We just want to allow the youth in Bethel Township and indeed all of Clark County to have a good chance to succeed,” states Banaszak. “Trainings like this will encourage businessmen to move to this area if they have a workforce ready for them. Youth can live in any part of Clark County to be in the program.”

Businesses and youth are encouraged to call the FYI office at 845-0403 to find out about this excellent program and sign up to participate in it. As a local business you will help the community survive.

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