_Community Internship Program
_We are excited to launch the HYSB Internship Program. Already in its
pilot year, the program is showing signs of success. This year, we
collaborated with the Sharon Historical Society (SHS) serving as the
placement site for our pilot summer program. Beginning in late June and
running through late August, a total of 4 interns completed Curatorial
Internships at the Historical Society. HYSB is sponsoring two of the
interns through this program.
Each intern was required to complete an application and interview process. Interns were contracted to complete 120 placement hours. A stipend totaling $700.00 was awarded to each participant upon successful completion of the contract.
We started this program out of concern for the challenges facing young people growing up in our rural communities. HYSB conducted research in 2009 in order to better understand what challenges young people face. Under the guidance of the Search Institute and the Education Connection, we administered the Developmental Asset Survey to each school in the region 1 school district.
The resulting data show some concerning statistics:
· Only 26% of surveyed female respondents indicated that their “community valued youth”
· Only 31% of surveyed female respondents indicated an “adult role model”
· Only 28% of surveyed female respondents indicated feeling that “youth are a resource”
· Only 44% of surveyed female respondents indicated feeling a sense of “personal power”
We hope the HYSB Internship Program can help in these areas. Young men and women can feel a part of the community, develop relationships with positive role models, feel resourceful, and help make a difference in their community.
The financial benefits of the program are clear, the stipend component to the program is an added incentive for many young people as employment opportunities for high school students remain a challenge in our area. But what is not so evident is how this program builds community connectedness, promotes positive relationships, empowers emotional resiliency, and develops professional skill areas.
Each intern was required to complete an application and interview process. Interns were contracted to complete 120 placement hours. A stipend totaling $700.00 was awarded to each participant upon successful completion of the contract.
We started this program out of concern for the challenges facing young people growing up in our rural communities. HYSB conducted research in 2009 in order to better understand what challenges young people face. Under the guidance of the Search Institute and the Education Connection, we administered the Developmental Asset Survey to each school in the region 1 school district.
The resulting data show some concerning statistics:
· Only 26% of surveyed female respondents indicated that their “community valued youth”
· Only 31% of surveyed female respondents indicated an “adult role model”
· Only 28% of surveyed female respondents indicated feeling that “youth are a resource”
· Only 44% of surveyed female respondents indicated feeling a sense of “personal power”
We hope the HYSB Internship Program can help in these areas. Young men and women can feel a part of the community, develop relationships with positive role models, feel resourceful, and help make a difference in their community.
The financial benefits of the program are clear, the stipend component to the program is an added incentive for many young people as employment opportunities for high school students remain a challenge in our area. But what is not so evident is how this program builds community connectedness, promotes positive relationships, empowers emotional resiliency, and develops professional skill areas.
