São Paulo, March 1, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The ABC Work and Citizenship Youth Center, an area to concentrate the activities of the First Job program in São Paulo's ABC region, will be inaugurated today in Santo André, in the presence of the Minister of Labor and Employment, Ricardo Berzoini.

The Center is sponsored by the Social Consortium of Youth, formed by 13 civil society institutions and movements committed to the First Job program.

Through the program, 922 young péople from the region will be prepared for the job market. For four months they will take courses geared mainly to the commercial and service sectors, for which they will receive a R$ 150 stipend. The Social Consortium of Youth pledges to find jobs for at least 40% of the young people who are enrolled. (DAS)