Summer 2013 City of Savannah To Offer Paid Summer Program (Savannah, Ga.)

Working with the Juvenile Courts and Ombudsman, the City of Savannah announces plans to offer The Savannah Pre-Apprentice Program to 40 City of Savannah youth. The paid program will provide academic assistance, life skills development and job skills training to youth 14-16 years old during a seven-week program June 17-August 1. Program participants will be referred to the program by the Chatham County Juvenile Court administrator’s office or Ombudsman Educational Services.

Participants will:

• Work with a certified Math teacher on basic math and with a certified English Language Arts/Reading teacher.
• Attend sessions on life skills development to include conflict resolution, time management, leadership, personal health and wellness, and financial management.
• Earn $7.25 per hour for all training and work hours completed.
• Visit cultural institutions, including museums and theaters.
• Complete courses in job readiness, job safety, CPR and Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) in landscaping or painting and finishing.
• Provide painting and yard work for low-income homeowners.
• Work with the City’s Downtown Services to beautify downtown Savannah through tree, lawn and square maintenance.
• Receive financial literacy training and establish a personal savings account through a local credit union or bank. Half of their pay will be automatically deposited into their savings accounts.
• Receive individualized time and attention from mentors.

Students referred to the Savannah Pre-Apprentice Pilot Program for 2013 must be between the ages of 14-16 and a resident of the City of Savannah. Students must also exhibit a motivation to change, not have committed more than one non-violent crime and if the student is a court involved youth they must have at least one year remaining on probation.