The summer interns are assigned to various locations on campus, including at the Triton Welcome Center, TRiO Educational Talent Search office, Calvo Field House, Residence Halls, and Career Development Office.

Some of the summer interns are also at the UOG Post Office, Triton Store, UOG Press, 4-H Program, and offices in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

"Our youth interns have played crucial roles in the success of several projects that have required skills like task management, distribution, marketing and outreach, and project coordination. I am impressed not only by their ability to collaborate effectively as a team and maintain a high level of productivity but also by their eagerness to learn and bring their own creative passions to life through our projects,” said Via De Fant, Publicist, UOG Press.

As an example, the interns assigned to the UOG Press are working on a multi-modal workshop that caters to youth with all types of interests such as music, poetry, and art. 

“Their dedication to their responsibilities has been instrumental in keeping UOG Press projects on track and continuing our mission to serve and uplift our community through our publications and resources,” De Fant added. 

Connecting with the youth

Kiana Brown, Project Manager at UOG Press, recognizes the input from youth interns to connect with Guam youth by developing books that represent their experiences and encouraging them to tell their own stories. 

“I work closely with our intern Ha'åni Castro and her feedback about the publications we are developing for youth has been invaluable. As a young writer and artist, herself, she has shared insights about the themes in our books that she feels her peers will connect to most and has helped us develop thoughtful activities to help engage with them. She is also working with her fellow interns to organize a youth workshop where young creatives can come together and try their hand at different creative arts," Brown said. 

At the Triton Store and Post Office, under Auxiliary Services, the summer interns have made a significant impact, said Manager Mynette Gaje Dizon. 

Chance to explore career paths

“Their strong work ethic, dedication, and commitment to excellence align perfectly with the values and mission of Auxiliary Services, and we couldn't be more pleased with their performance,” Dizon said.

The Governor’s Summer Youth Employment Program is providing paid summer internships across the government of Guam to 1,885 students, ages 14 to 17 at $10 an hour.

“Summer youth employment provides our youth with entry-level work experience and a chance to explore various career pathways,” according to Governor Lou Leon Guerrero in a statement. “When we invest in our youth, we invest in our future.”

The summer interns are helping GovGuam offices with their efforts to recover from Typhoon Mawar.

The five-week program ends on Aug. 4.