New youth center opens

Community volunteers, including government officials, school principals, teachers, and youth leaders will make themselves available at the newly opened Youth Learning Center for free tutorial services to students who need academic assistance.

The new youth center, a brainchild of Rep. Malua T. Peter, opened its doors Wednesday.

“The youth learning center is an after-school program that will focus on tutoring, and guidance counseling,” Peter said. “The program envisions strong collaborative relationships with schools and local social programs serving our youth and families.”

Volunteer tutors offer to help students who are having trouble with basic writing and reading in English and Math.

Volunteers also offer counseling to children with personal problems, Peter said.

The center has at least six computers which students are allowed to use for their homework and school assignments.

The center has two buildings, located in Lower MIHA (Annex I, units 15 and 16) in Garapan, which were made available by the Northern Marianas Housing Corp.

The housing agency and the offices of Reps. Jesus Attao and Melvin Faisao provided financial assistance to defray the cost of renovation, Peter said.

The program is also being sponsored by the women group, Para Hita Ghiisch.

“We’ll invite our network of women in the community to volunteer their time to support this program,” said Rita Inos, education commissioner, and chairman of Para Hita.

Inos said the new community learning program can give extensive support to the Public School System. She said she expects more students from public schools than private schools to come to the center.

“This center will be of service to PSS since it offers activities that we cannot do at PSS,” Inos said (MC)