(Posted 2026 July)

This summer, 133 youth are completing their paid work experience with 100 local employers, many of them small businesses, and government agencies. The hands-on opportunities are offered through the Educating Youth through Employment (EYE) program, operated by DFS Workforce Development and Virginia Career Works– Northern Region. Each summer, EYE provides youth ages 16-24 a chance to explore future careers and gain real-life work experience alongside mentorship and skills development. The program runs for six weeks, ending with a Recognition Ceremony on August 14 to celebrate the youth’s accomplishments and to appreciate the employers who hosted youth this summer. 

Youth are matched with a worksite through a process led by team of counselors hired to support the program for its duration. EYE counselors work closely with participants to identify their interests, strengths, and long-term goals. This personalized approach allows counselors to place youth at worksites where they are likely to both contribute and grow. Common positions for youth are administrative assistant, social media assistant, tech intern, animal caretaker, research assistant, and counselor-in-training. A few notable examples from this summer include working with the Washington Commanders at their summer football camp, working with dogs and cats at pet daycares, helping organize a local fashion runway show, and even creating their own marshmallow flavor at a candy store.

EYE counselor Olivia Gendreau shared, “For a lot of our participants, this is their first work experience ever, so learning to trust in themselves that they have the skills they need to succeed is the most valuable thing they could take away from this program.”
Worksite experiences highlight the impact of EYE. Omar is completing his EYE experience at the McNeil Preschool Academy in Alexandria, providing additional classroom supervision and assisting the lead teachers with their lessons, activities and overall classroom management. Omar shared that participating in the EYE program has “given me the ability to expand my skills in the workforce. Rather than being super specialized in one thing, it is better to be able to know the procedures and protocols for a wide array of things.” Developing transferrable skills is key in today’s fast-paced and dynamic job market. 

Brandon Peel, principal of the McNeil Preschool Academy, has been impressed by Omar’s willingness to jump in with both feet and learn from the lead teachers from day one, reflecting that, “Omar has shown up to work on time every day since starting with us and has taken initiative in moments that most would shy away from.” 

Hosting an EYE youth is an opportunity for employers to give back to the community and help build the workforce of tomorrow. Peel encourages employers considering joining the program next year to “Just to allow them to try things on their own (within reason) and to offer constructive feedback if they make mistakes. I often tell our intern [Omar] that he's here to learn first and foremost and to work second, so don't be afraid to ask questions and to try things because you'll only learn from the mistakes you make and the experience you gain.”