Saint-Louis Region: Deadline Extended for Youth Internship Program Applications
The deadline to apply for a program designed to connect young graduates with internship opportunities in the Saint-Louis region of Senegal has been extended to . The program, known as the Projet d’Appui à la Territorialisation des Politiques d’Insertion Professionnelle des Jeunes et des Femmes (PATIP-JF), aims to facilitate professional integration for recent graduates, including those with disabilities.
The initiative focuses on placing young professionals in formal businesses, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MPMEs) within the Saint-Louis region. The extension provides additional time for both young graduates and companies to participate.
Interested candidates can submit their applications through an online platform at https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/FO2XrT8m. This digital platform streamlines the application process.
PATIP-JF is a project spearheaded by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training and Technical Education (MEFPT), in partnership with the Regional Development Agency of Saint-Louis (ARD) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The program’s core objective is to ease the professional insertion of young graduates and women in the Saint-Louis region.
The inclusion of people with disabilities in this call for applications underscores a commitment to inclusive and equitable insertion policies. Businesses in the region, especially MPMEs, are encouraged to welcome these young trainees, offering them valuable practical experience and facilitating their integration into the job market.
The program builds on existing efforts to address youth unemployment and skills gaps. According to the ARD of Saint-Louis, the program seeks to identify formal MPMEs in the region that can benefit from the skills of newly trained young people.
For further information, candidates can contact the ARD of Saint-Louis at +33 961 83 99 or via email at ard@ardsl.sn.
This extension offers additional time for young graduates and businesses in the region to position themselves and contribute to strengthening youth employability in Saint-Louis. The program represents a concerted effort to build a pipeline of skilled workers and address the evolving needs of the regional economy.
In St. Louis, Missouri, a separate initiative, the St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP), has been providing internship opportunities for high school students for over 30 years. SLIP, now part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, focuses on providing paid summer internships, employability training, and college and career planning. The program aims to create a diverse pipeline of talent for the St. Louis region, with a focus on students in financial need.
SLIP’s Executive Director, Shanise Johnson, who herself was a former SLIP intern, emphasizes the transformative power of internships, stating that they can shape a young person’s future and help them articulate their potential. The program partners with businesses and community organizations to provide these opportunities.
The Missouri program, founded in 1992, has reportedly maintained a success rate of over 98% in seeing participants graduate from high school prepared for college and careers. The St. Louis Internship Program is actively seeking employer partners to provide internship placements.
