Employment preparedness and work experience are important life lessons, and so is understanding the importance of giving back to the community. Teens in the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) receive all three.
On Wednesday, Aug. 7, hundreds of SYI students will volunteer for the 2013 SYI Day of Service. The teens will volunteer at close to 40 non-profit agencies in Genesee County. Volunteer opportunities include sorting food or clothing, assisting at day camps, serving as office assistants, performing gardening and outdoor maintenance and cleaning empty lots or elementary classrooms.
“The purpose of the day of service is to teach students the importance of giving back to their community,” said Rhetta Hunyady, Chamber Vice President for Education & Training. “Because the students have benefitted from community giving, the day of service enables them to become involved in their community and learn the value of giving to others.”
TeenQuest is a five-week pre-employment and leadership training program designed to help Genesee County youth prepare for success in the future. Through TeenQuest students learn the basics of teamwork, business etiquette, work ethics, communications, goal setting and conflict resolution. The program is also a pre-requisite for employment through the Summer Youth Initiative (SYI), which matches employers with TeenQuest graduates for summer employment.
For more information about SYI and TeenQuest visit flintandgenesee.org/learn/teenquest/ or contact Paul Stainbrook at (810) 600-1413 or .