Each summer the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) provides those 14-years old–24-years old opportunities to acquire employment skills that pair with their interests. Young people aged 16–24 improve their work readiness skills and explore career pathways through paid summer jobs in a variety of industries throughout NYC. You can see a list of all the worksites on page 8 that provided jobs and mentorship for those participating in SYEP at St. Nicks Alliance.
Two participants of past and this year’s SYEP speak about their experiences.
Anthony Aponte 2022–2024
Initially, I joined SYEP in search of a summer job that would be light and simple. However, in the last two years, I have gained an amazing amount of knowledge and skills, including opportunities to develop my communication, problem solving, and time management. All of which I am incredibly grateful for. That’s not all, while gaining these new skills, I also established regular relationships with mentors and other teenagers who have or are dealing with similar situations. To be honest, I’m pleased with how SYEP shaped me, and I might have become a different person if I hadn’t gone. I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences that SYEP has provided me, and I am confident that the skills I have gained will benefit me in my future career. Even though these are the two
main reasons I joined SYEP, there are a lot more. I adore their office’s accessibility and the effectiveness of their communication with people just like me. Also, when you first join SYEP, they have a conversation with you to learn about your hobbies and future goals. For you to learn, they then look for a job that fits with some of these curricula. They also make sure that your location isn’t too far from your area, which is just one of their many thoughtful actions.
Isabella G. 2022-2024
As a SYEP participant for now 2 years, I can say that this is extremely beneficial. My first time working with SYEP I built some lifelong skills. I learned how to budget and save my money, better time management, and work ethic, as well as gaining work experience. I mainly joined SYEP because i wanted to be able to have my own money to spend throughout the summer but even though i wanted to earn my own money, throughout the summer but even though I wanted to earn my own money, it’s also a learning experience that I benefit highly from.
The Greenline 