Governor’s Summer Youth Employment Program to Return in Summer 2023
Hagåtña, Guam – The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration announces that the Governor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (GSYEP) is fully funded for summer 2023. In a letter to Governor Lou Leon Guerrero on September 29, 2022, Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor presented an award of $2,088,706 in Compact Impact discretionary funding for use towards the program.
“This exciting news represents our administration’s continued commitment to providing Guam’s young people with opportunities to learn, grow, and foster a healthy future,” said Governor Leon Guerrero. “This summer, we proudly joined our employees to welcome 1,303 youth participants to this expanded educational program. They enjoyed serving in sectors across our government from law enforcement and agriculture to communications and planning. We remain dedicated to helping our youth create a more sustainable and prosperous island for generations to come.”
“As we commemorate Red Ribbon Month and renew our pledges to a drug-free Guam, we are encouraged that this program builds on the importance of community learning opportunities and healthy extra-curricular activities,” said Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio. “In response to increased interest, the Governor and I made the decision to enhance the program and double the number of available opportunities to ensure that all eligible youth could participate in the previous cohort. We will continue working to strengthen this program and those that lift up our island’s children.”
In 2020, the Governor and Lt. Governor revived and expanded this program, which was ended by the Camacho Administration in 2005. GSYEP 2021 and 2022 was funded through the Education Stabilization Fund. Through the program, youth work 30 hours per week at nearly 80 different government offices islandwide. Participants gain real-world entry-level work experience, improve interpersonal communication skills, obtain career choice advice and educational guidance, make connections for future career opportunities, receive mentorship from positive adult role models, build a resume for potential jobs or college applications, and earn a paycheck.
To learn more about GSYEP, visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section at dya.guam.gov. For more information, contact DYA at 671- 477-9558 and 671-735-5035/7.
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