Announcement
Eight refugee and immigrant youth utilized their Spring Break to successfully complete the Teen Employment Bootcamp with Boise Parks and Recreation.
Photo: Hannah Oblock/IRC
Summer jobs are an incredibly popular topic among refugee youth, so when Boise's Parks and Recreation department announced registration for the Teen Employment Bootcamp, the International Rescue Committee in Boise was thrilled to connect. As a result, six teenagers eager to contribute to their family's income, determined to establish financial independence, and excited about this new opportunity were referred to the program through the IRC in Boise's youth success specialist.
Utilizing their free time over Spring Break, a total of eight refugee and immigrant teens learned the essential job-readiness skills needed in order to obtain employment with the City of Boise. The Bootcamp focused on helping youth identify their inherent strengths and assets, while learning how to write resumes, interview with employers, develop responsible habits, and curate their time management and leadership skills.
Marie Hattaway, Community Partnership and Youth Rec Manager, designed and facilitated the bootcamp. Said Marie, "the[se] participants couldn't have been more perfect! The teens that completed this course showed up early every day, stayed eager to learn, and endured long, full-time days. I'm confident that these teens will secure jobs... and employers will be satisfied with their dependability, integrity, and commitment to work hard."
The Bootcamp culminated with youth participating in several interviews with various departments at the City of Boise; many of the participants will be hired by the City's Youth Employment Program this upcoming summer.
Fatuma, a Bootcamp participant and graduate, said "the Bootcamp was so fun! Without it, I would have been at home all day over spring break with nothing to do... And I want money for the summer."