Most teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19 spend their days sitting in a classroom – learning the subjects that will someday make them employable. But the 40 youths in the “Get a Life” program don’t have that luxury – their existence is played out on the thin outer edge of society’s mainstream. But something has to be done to get them back into that mainstream – and so through the get a life program, they’ve spent the last four months in the field - learning how to be carpenters, plumbers, and electricians.
The program winds down at the end of this month and the youths have been given the ultimate test – building homes. We visited Rowland’s Alley today and Keith Swift got the story of youths trying to get paid, legally.
Douglas Flores, 19 Years Old
“I used to give a lot of trouble on the streets and I lately came out of Wagner’s Youth Facility.”
But instead of returning to the streets, 19 year old Douglas Flores joined the “Get A Life Program.” He and these other youths spent 4 months learning and now they are on site in Rowland’s Alley constructing low-income homes.
Roderick Elijio, Director from ITVET
“We had some basic theory and we did some basic measurements, carpentry skills, electrical skills, masonry skills, and that led to this is. These are actual houses being built for people to live in. Basically there are 16 by 20 houses, one bathroom, two bedrooms, dining and hall.”
Keith Swift,
What do you think you probably would have been doing if you didn’t join this program?
Douglas Flores,
“Well I think I would have been involved with police right now and I would have been behind jail so right I am just glad.”
Glad to be off the streets – and building homes – even if it is only for 50 dollars per day.
Douglas Flores,
“You will learn a trade from here. At the end of the program they said they will give you a certificate and they will find a job for you. A regular job they will find for you so I am alright with the pay, I don’t worry about it. If you give up something you will be a failure and you can’t be a failure. You want someone to look at you in the good way. I take everything as why we are building these houses, I take it as fun. This is what we are offering to somebody so I feel glad doing it.”
Glad to be off the streets – and building homes – even if it is only for $50 per week.
Douglas Flores,
“You will learn a trade from here. At the end of the program they said they will give you a certificate and they will find a job for you. A regular job they will find for you so I am alright with the pay, I don’t worry about it.
If you give up something you will be a failure and you can’t be a failure. You want someone to look at you in the good way. I take everything as why we are building these houses, I take it as fun. This is what we are offering to somebody so I feel glad doing it."
Lena Gabourel, 18 Years Old
“I like what I am doing. It makes me feel proud as a woman.”
Keith Swift,
How has the program helped you?
Lena Gabourel,
“It helps me in a lot of way. I get friends and if I can’t do something the guys help me.”
Keith Swift,
If you weren’t in the get a life program what would you have been doing?
Lena Gabourel,
“Basically nothing.”
Felecia Gillett, 19 Years Old
“I would have just stayed home and had nothing to do. So this really helped me a lot.”
Roderick Elijio,
“They are very committed. I can see they are out here by 7:30 and I could see that the kids look forwarding to coming to work.”
The youths are working on five homes. Three of them are in Rowland’s Alley. Minister of Housing Michael Finnegan – who is also the area representative - says the homes will be given to needy families.
Michael Finnegan, Minister of Housing
“These houses will be distributed to people who are the property owners. The buildings which were here in bad shape, desperate shape, unlivable conditions and I as Minister decided that these people should be the recipients of these houses.”
And as efficient as they are - the end game isn’t to teach the youths how to build a house. It is to keep Douglas Flores out of jail and Lena Gabourel and Felecia Gillett off the streets. It is to, yes, give them a legal life with an employable skill. Reporting for 7NEWS, Keith Swift.
The homes are valued at $16,000. As we mentioned the program finishes at the end of this month but it won’t be the end of it. Minister of Housing Michael Finnegan says the program will be taken up by the Ministry of National Security.
