August 16, 2017
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Beyond the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and volunteering for community service credit, teens in Ditmas Park aren’t familiar with other programs designed to keep them active and social.

These are important goals for teens who spend a lot of time online. Teens spend nearly 9 hours a day on their phones, according to Common Sense Media.  Even teens want other ways to spend their time.

Summer programs help teens “meet new people and be active instead of staring at a screen all day,” said Breanah Howard, 16.  Spending full days on social media “leads to drama and it isn’t productive,” said Breanah.

Not only do they aid in socializing skills, but summer programs allow teens to experience new things and new people. “Most kids want to work during the summer but not everyone can do that and programs give teens a chance to get off the streets throughout the summer,” said Maia Rivera, 16. She’s lucky enough to be one of the many people ages 14-24, who earned a job placement through SYEP. The city pays her $11 an hour to work up to 25 hours at a camp with 5-11 year olds at a camp. If she wasn’t working, Rivera said she would probably be sitting in her house doing nothing.

The focus on the future should be a key part of summer programs, said Marlon Marte, 17.

Neighborhood teens want “to focus on turning interests into job,” she said. “By focusing on career development, teens can gain the experience they need to be hired.” It’s a good way to practice being good at something.

“Everyone wants to see if their dream job is actually something they’ll enjoy,” said Marte.