If you or someone you know were unable to earn their high school diploma during the 2020 school year, YouthBuild is a great opportunity to earn your GED while also learning valuable skills to become employed. Stipends can also be earned for attendance! Earn money while learning! YouthBuild of South Central Illinois is for young adults who are in need of a certificate High School Equivalency (HSE/GED) and are between the ages of 16 and 24 years old. There are at least 2.3 million low-income 16 – 24-year-olds in the United States who are neither in school nor employed. All are in urgent need of pathways to jobs, education, entrepreneurship, and other opportunities leading to productive and contributing livelihoods. YouthBuild programs provide those pathways by unleashing the positive energy of young people to rebuild their communities and their lives, breaking the cycle of poverty with a commitment to work, education, community, and family. YouthBuild of South Central Illinois offers: Community Involvement, Leadership Development, Team Building, Forklift Training, Pre-apprenticeship; Stipends for Attendance, High School Equivalency or General Education Development Class (HSE or GED), College Education Exploration, Mental Health Services, Job Readiness Training, Employment Assistance, and Career Training in Construction and Hospitality. YouthBuild of South Central Illinois is funded through a grant provided by the US Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Current locations are 107 Shiloh Dr. in Mt. Vernon and 200 S. Pine in Centralia. Applications available at sperofs.org/YouthBuild or call 242-6723 (Mt. Vernon) or 533-5288 (Centralia).