Twenty-two teens proudly made the pledge, ‘All for one, One for all’ at a graduation ceremony, marking the completion of the Guam Police Department Project U Youth program this summer. 

For the past four weeks, they obtained life skills, explored career opportunities and learned the value of community.

All through the help of various mentors in law enforcement, the National Guard, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center and Tohge Guam. 

They say it takes a village to raise a child. This is that village approach,” said Police Chief Stephen Ignacio. 

Project U was created in 2019, the same year Ignacio took up the helm at GPD. 

“That was when I thought we needed to do something for our youth. What can we do to get them off the streets and into a program so they can stay out of trouble, so we can provide a positive environment for our youth,” added Ignacio. 

Incoming Notre Dame High School sophomore Alejandra Materne led the ceremony.  

“Project U isn’t just a program. It’s an experience that made us all grow. It reminded us that we’re not alone, our voices matter and that our futures are all full of potential,” said Materne. 

We spoke with her earlier this month when the program just started. 

Now, this Project U graduate is ready to forge forward on her path filled with endless possibilities, alongside her peers.

“I’m also ready after high school. I’m ready to go out into the real world and now I have a better understanding of what the world has to offer and the different things I can be doing,” said Materne. 

“I learned a whole bunch of useful things that I didn’t know beforehand like different careers I could explore,” added Lanuola Poasa from ND. 

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero told these students to take the lessons they learned this summer and apply them to their lives, not just in high school, but in all their future endeavors. 

“What do you want to do? What do you want to make out of your life? You are all very young. You have a whole wealth of opportunities among you and in our island. You can be whatever you want to be, but just make those right choices,” said Leon Guerrero.