Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 12, 1 December 1991 — ALU LIKE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALU LIKE

(presented by Ka Wai Ola O OHA and Alu Like as a public seruice)

Alu Like trains workers for future

A Fine Example of Program Success by Carla Kurokawa Eaeh year, Alu Like's Employmentand Training Program assists hundreds of adult and youth participants to secure various training opportunities in classroom training, work experience, on-the-job training, community service employment, and upgrading activities. Participation in program activitiesis determined by the interests, goals, ambition, and eligibility of the participant. It also depends on the availability of opportunities. Participants work with career counselors to determine their area of interest and possible program placement. Many participants receive instruction and help in resume preparation, job interviewing techniques, filling out applications, and tips on being a good worker. Throughout the year, participants grow and develop as they find their plaee in the world of work. Many of them thank Alu Like for giving them their start. They say that without the help of the program, they would not be where they are today. A good example of this ean be found in past participant Mary "Kim" Lum Ho. Kim eame to Alu Like in 1980 as a youth applicant. She participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program as a recreation summer fun helper with the Department of Parks and Recreation. She worked with youth ages 10-12. It was her first work experience and she began to consider human services as a possibility for her life's work. When Kim applied for services the following summer, she was placed at the Hawai'i Island YWCA as a summer program assistant where she had the opportunity to leam and apply administrative skills in program planning. Kim was selected as outstanding participant for

Hawai'i Island and was one of five Hawai'i youth who attended a Native American Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. As an adult classroom training participant, Kim attended the University of Hawai'i at Hilo and majored in sociology. She had her heart set on a career in human services. Today, Kim is working in the area of her dreams - human services. She is employed by Haili Christian School as the afterschool program director. In the summer, she is a teacher with the Haili C.hurch Summer Fun Program. Kim supervises and provides direction and guidance to

many of our presēnt summer youth participants. These participants are receiving training in childcare and youth activities. It is inspirational'to see someone who has benefitted from the program in a position of supervising and having an impact on the youth. Kim is grateful to Alu Like for the opportunity to leam, work, and develop her skills through the program. She said, "I learned many leadership skills through my experiences with Alu Like. Skills that enable me to carry out mueh of my work today." She encourages all youth and adults to take advantage of Alu Like's programs.