The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) say they are pleased to report on the successful results of a special teen workforce development project, Learning, Earning, and Advancing Dreams (LEAD) BVI, piloted over the past year. YEP thanks the Falconwood Foundation, Inc. (FFI) and the Popular VI Community Fund administered by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) for providing the funding to implement the pilot.
Based on a model pioneered by the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, NJ, with which YEP is affiliated, YEP selected 12 teens from local high schools to receive soft skills training and workforce experience, focused on the hospitality sector. While one participant dropped out during the course of the pilot, a total of 11 BVI teens have successfully completed nearly ten months of training, engagement, and work experience.
Teens have participated enthusiastically in soft skills training seminars, led by local chef Terrance Bogans (known as “Chef Mike”) and community leaders on such topics as time management; organizational skills, and effective communications.
The pilot has also provided more than 800 hours of paid internship opportunities for teens to put their skills into practice.
These included, for example, working as youth counselors at YEP and catering the YEP Virgin Gorda groundbreaking in March. Over the Easter holidays, the teens participated in a week-long rotation at The Moorings in which teens were able to experience the full range of hospitality jobs, from front desk to IT to housekeeping. Over the summer, nine teens had paid internships at local resorts, restaurants, and the airport.
In addition, LEADers have participated in regular field trips, such as a tour of historic Road Town and a visit to Guana Island Hotel for presentations of all the aspects of how a resort works. They have been able to see and meet with local people like themselves who are in leadership positions at various resorts. Teens have also benefitted from a partnership with HireBVI, which has coached them in how to write resumes and provided video facilities for each teen to record a 30-second video about themselves.
The agency said results to date are very promising with excellent attendance by participants. Students attend training, internships, and trips with a very open attitude and are excited to learn and participate.
Additionally, YEP said personal growth has been seen and noted in all LEADers. Feedback from teens and parents indicate that they find the program to be useful. The enthusiasm and willingness of teens to learn and grow has been noted by partners.
Based on these successful results to date, YEP is requesting funds and partners in order to select a second cohort and continue LEAD BVI in 2025.