Choose a group...The Difference a Job Makes
“It’s such a life changing experience to know you can make a difference. It’s not just a job when it’s fun”-Nicole, teen tutor
Nicole, who has been a teen tutor with Read Alliance since last November, when asked about her experience says, “You’re actually helping someone, and that makes you feel good about yourself”. Nicole goes on to point out that teens and younger students can make a special connection that is not possible with other age groups, as she says, “We are like a friend that they respect. We were their age not too long ago. In the teens they can see their cousins, their brother, or their sister”. This is important because “when they are comfortable, they can learn”.
What makes Read Alliance so special is our vision to prepare two at-risk populations for continued academic and personal accomplishment. Not only do we shrink the achievement gap by providing at-risk students with basic reading skills, but also, as teen participation in the workforce has been in decline over the past decade, Read Alliance continues to provide hundreds of teens with meaningful, paid jobs each year.
In fact, our teen tutors are key to delivering our program. New York City teens over the age of 14 are eligible to apply for paid tutoring jobs. Selected teens attend after-school training to learn our curriculum, how to work with young children, and the expectations of a paid job. Once trained, teens then become paid tutors, working after school to bring foundational reading skills to their students under the leadership of teachers and Read Alliance program managers.
But why employ teens? That part is simple. We know that teens not only deserve, but also need the kind of skills and experience meaningful jobs provide. The negative impact of youth unemployment is not temporary: unemployment during an individual’s teen years will result in lower wages and higher levels of unemployment further down the line.1 Additionally, studies show that the impact can reach beyond economics and negatively impact self-esteem, increasing vulnerability to drugs, disease, and crime.2
On the other hand, teens that attain meaningful employment learn the skills and responsibilities associated with paid work. Read Alliance teen tutors learn more than the ins and outs of having a job: they get the added benefits of making an impact on a child’s life. Our teen tutors report higher levels of patience and feelings of empowerment after they begin work. As teens like Nicole move from Read Alliance to college and then on to a career, they will always know the difference their first job has made in their own lives and the lives of others.
11/21/2011 by Angela Giacchetti | Category: Press Releases | Tags: Teen Employment Teen Tutors
