Flores sets up youth foundation

The Saipan Mayor’s Office recently established a non-profit and tax-exempt foundation that aims to help the island’s youth through after-school and summer programs and will set up youth centers with access to the Internet.

Called the Saipan Enrichment Foundation, it is headed by president Mabel Ayuyu of McDonald’s Saipan, vice president/secretary/treasurer Michael Ada of Integrated Solutions, and board members Frankie Eliptico of the Northern Marianas College and Walter Yu of FSM Recycling.

“We’re looking at helping out and enhancing the cultural exchange and also offer scholarship to the youth. We could also use proceeds from the foundation for sports and youth activities. We’re trying to get these kids into work-study programs associated with the Internet and online learning,” said Saipan Mayor Donald Flores in an interview Wednesday at the Saipan Mayor’s Office in San Jose.

He said one of the immediate objectives of the foundation is to open a youth center with access to the Internet.

“We’ve seen kids after school who line up at stores [and other businesses] that have Internet connection. They use their laptops and they have no place to go,” he said.

Flores’ adviser, Henry Hofschneider, shares the mayor’s sentiments on the need to set up youth centers.

“Our objective is to have these kids go to a safe place. It also connects kids from here to those in Japan and Korea. It’s similar to the exchange program but since we don’t have the funding for travel, communication through the Internet is the next best thing. We will contact our sister cities in Japan and Korea to help us set up this communication.”

If computers or laptops are made available at these youth centers, more children would be able to benefit, Flores said. “We can continue the cultural exchange with Japan and Korea for some of these kids who have no opportunity to travel. This might be helpful also to kids have no laptops or computers at home.”

Flores said the youth centers could also enlist the help of retired teachers who can volunteer to teach and tutor youth who need help with their schoolwork. Ditto with coaches, who can train youth in various sports.

Hofschneider doesn’t think the planned youth centers will duplicate existing Manhoben centers on island.

“We will look at different communities that have existing and ongoing programs like that and will provide the same programs and more to areas that don’t have them.”

Flores said the Saipan Enrichment Foundation hopes to get money through fundraising, donations, and outreach to the business community. “If the business community sees that this program will help the community I think they might support this foundation.”

He said the foundation’s programs could eventually include artists and musicians, citing Bridge Capital Investment’s CNMI Got Talent, “so there’s support from the business community out there.”