Video: Summer Youth Program Kicks Off

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — “We rake leaves, we trim the trees, we plant trees, clean up cemeteries.”

17 year old Ashley Thomas enjoys earning a dollar. This is her second year in Columbus’s Summer Youth Program.

“It’s actually a great experience, like it’s a learning experience helping learn responsibility and things like that,” said Thomas.

19 year old Dylan Gordan also appreciates the tough work.

“It helps me to wake up in the morning, get up and start my day and it helps for the future get on time for work. It helps build character, it teaches me how to show up on time,” said Gordan.

19 students from around the area start their workday at 7am and work until noon.

“It’s a 10 week program, where we give the kids a summer job. We’re trying to teach them how to show up, how to be on time, how to follow instructions,” said Travis Jones, Project Coordinator for the Summer Youth Program.

In addition to raking and clipping, this program also teaches students valuable lessons in life, like putting together a resume or balancing a checkbook.

“We do teach life skills one week when we go into the classroom and we teach them basic functions like how to conduct themselves in an interview, how to dress appropriately for an interview,” said Jones.

Program coordinators say the lessons learned at the summer program makes a lifelong difference.

“I run into some of the former students all the time and they tell me that they’ve received college degrees and that this program was their start. As far as teaching them how to be responsible. I remember one guy one summer where he didn’t spend any of his money, he saved his whole check and bought a car the first summer he worked on this program, so I think that truly was a success,” said Jones.

For 15 years, the program has shaped young lives and they hope it’ll continue for years to come.

At the end of the year, students are invited to a luncheon by the mayor and city council. The hardest male and female workers are recognized at the event.

Categories: Local News

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