Also seeking local businesses to mentor students
Earl Johnson, Chief of Voluntary Service at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with 2016 program participants
COATESVILLE -Applications are now open for the Coatesville Youth Initiative (CYI) 2017 ServiceCorps; a highly selective, rigorous (and very fun) summer leadership program available to residents aged 14 to 18 who reside in the Coatesville Area School District. Through outstanding community support, the program is offered free-of-charge.
In its eighth year of operation, ServiceCorps fosters collaboration and partnerships among organizations in the greater Coatesville area who serve as work sites for the selected participants. Since the program inception, ServiceCorps students have completed 67,000 hours of service and earned over $500,000 in wages.”
Each year, CYI looks to expand the number of local businesses who host the interning students. Host Sites provide opportunity and guidance for 2–3 youth participants, whose salaries are underwritten by the Coatesville Youth Initiative. In addition to promoting valuable work experience for participants, host sites often return to the program, citing that youth input makes their own programs and businesses stronger. As a result of assistance from ServiceCorps youth, many non-profit host sites are able to offer programming that they would otherwise not be able to afford.
Host sites must be located within the greater Coatesville community. Sites must also be committed to providing a safe, structured and properly supervised worksite for eight weeks where youth have a chance to perform meaningful tasks and have responsibilities for the duration of the program. With a history of over 25 diverse work sites, a few of the previous partners have included Art Partners Studio, Brandywine Health Foundation, Brandywine Hospital, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, Waste Oil Recyclers and the Department of Veteran Affairs.
For more information on how to become a ServiceCorps host site or apply for the 2017 ServiceCorps program, please contact Lula Defersha, CYI Prevention Manager, at 610.380.0200 x205.
The Coatesville Youth Initiative (CYI) is an independent nonprofit organization committed to training youth leaders, enhancing family relationships, building community collaboration, and encouraging prevention education. For more information, visit www.coatesvilleyouthinitiative.org.
