Building Tomorrow's Workforce: PROJECT MUSIC's Partnership with MYEP
For three consecutive years, PROJECT MUSIC has opened its doors to bright young minds through the Mayor's Youth Employment Program (MYEP), creating meaningful opportunities for Stamford's high school students to gain real world work experience in the nonprofit sector. This summer internship experience (SIE) continues to be a cornerstone of our commitment to youth development in our community.
This year's intern, Othniel Ndayisenga, a graduating senior at Westhill High School with a passion for storytelling and creative arts, exemplified the growth that makes this partnership so rewarding. Working under the guidance of Executive Director Gabrielle and Program Director Pedro Falcón at the Performing Arts Center at the King's School, Othniel dove into inventory management and administrative tasks that form the backbone of our operations.
"I gained hands-on experience with inventory and administrative tasks, which helped me understand the importance of thorough knowledge and verification of information, especially where people's money and time are at stake," Othniel reflected. His surprise at learning about the extensive administrative management needed to run what many consider an after school program demonstrates the depth of learning that occurs when young people engage with real workplace challenges.
Program Director Pedro Falcón observed Othniel's transformation throughout the internship period. "Othniel has been a respectful and professional presence at PROJECT MUSIC throughout his internship. While he was not very efficient at the beginning, he has shown noticeable improvement over time and now demonstrates a stronger drive to complete his tasks."
This pattern of growth reflects the true value of the MYEP experience, which offers Stamford high school juniors and seniors 140 hours of hands on work experience while earning $16.35 per hour, combined with 27 hours of mandatory leadership workshops covering essential professional skills.
"I'm grateful for the continued partnership between the Mayor's Youth Employment Program and PROJECT MUSIC," says Executive Director Gabrielle. "Each year, we look forward to having an SIE intern who is not only learning valuable work skills but contributing to meaningful work at PROJECT MUSIC."
For students like Othniel, who plans to continue pursuing creative arts in college, the experience provided valuable insight into organizational management and professional communication. The combination of paid work experience, professional development workshops, and financial literacy training creates a comprehensive foundation that serves students regardless of their chosen career path.
Applications for next year's program open January 1st and close March 31st at 5:30pm, with the six week commitment running from late June through July.
