Passport-to-Careers builds Guam workforce

by Krystal Paco

Guam - The summer months are well underway and hundreds of public high school students are preparing to hit worksites throughout the island to get hands-on training. Southern High School parent Evelyn Akima is excited for her son, 16-year-old Rodney Salas, who has been asking her if he could get a job.

Akima went to the school's counseling office and discovered Rodney qualified for AHRD's Passport-To-Careers program, a program that allows 15- through 17-year-olds to work through the summer, Christmas, and spring breaks in entry-level positions at GovGuam and private sector workplaces. "This is a very good program. Parents, visit your student's school counselor because this is a very good program that's going on," he said.

Rodney was one of 250 students present at today's orientation. He will receive his job assignment on Wednesday and begin working 32-hour workweeks for the next eight weeks. According to AHRD director, Alfredo Antolin, job assignments are based on the industries students showed interest in.

Along with earning minimum wage, students will build their resumes. Antolin says 15-year-olds in the program are encouraged to return the following years. Ultimately, Antolin says the goal is build Guam's workforce and decrease dependency on welfare programs. "This is what we're trying to do to get them more motivated so they know what industry is out there at the same time you've been hearing this concept Hire Local, so hopefully we can transition them to that part - hire local 0201 that we're trying to promote," he said.

Antolin says it's not too late if businesses want to open their doors to Passport-To-Career students. For more information, call AHRD at 475-7072.