A Job Corps meeting at Bethel AME Church in Hamilton Parish last night attracted an audience of four, two of whom arrived well after the presentation had begun, despite a heavyweight Government contingent consisting of Economy Minister Patrice Minors and Permanent Secretary Cherie-Lynn Whitter.The numbers attending the meeting did not reflect the statistics that Minister Minors and presenter Leon Thomas, policy advisor for the Ministry — who gave a presentation on the Job Corps programme — reported on youth unemployment. The Minister said that demographic group is “the fastest growing unemployment sector in the island,” while Mr Thomas stated the figure stands at 36 percent.The Job Corps programme, with a budget of $4-6 million, is geared to 16- to 24-year-olds, the Minister explained, because the public school system has responsibility for young people until they reach 16.Mrs Minors called it a “significant venture that we are taking out for the public,” reiterating that it is a residential programme and once it is underway, the old Harmony Hall guest house and cottage colony will have been renovated to house 100 young people. She said the Government is exploring “a public-private partnership to have those funds to renovate the property,” and Mr Thomas said the project was to be put out to tender.The policy advisor explained the reason the Harmony Club property on Middle Road in Paget was chosen was because it is close the Bermuda College and it will enable Job Corps participants to use resources available there. The expectation is that the retrofit of the property will take between seven months and a year.“The overall concept for conducting the renovations — there is an enormous amount of goodwill and potential and we want to be able to utilise that: painting, drywall, or electrical — so those who could use extra money or experience, we want to partner with the industry and they will tutor and guide the young individuals. It’s all hands on deck!” he said.Mr Thomas said their research had found that when young people don’t finish high school, they are not prepared for the job market, and then 60.8 percent of young people cease education after completing high school. Additionally, 80.9 percent of people who do graduate, do so without any technical competencies.The concept of the programme is “self transformation and career development, individualised academic instruction, vocational training leading to certification and work-based learning, as well as counselling and social services. The goal is for the young people to become confident, self directed learners, and active contributors who can work in a team and be concerned citizens. He added that participants are also expected to volunteer some of their time for good causes during their time in the programme.To date there is a detailed business plan in place, an operations manual, standard operating procedures established, and the establishment of a budget.