Many youths recently had the chance to participate in summer internships and prepare for a real job in Atlanta.

More than 700 high school and returning college students from Atlanta Public Schools completed internships in July at top companies and organizations for the third year in a row, according to an article from the City of Atlanta.

With Atlanta adding many jobs in recent years, many students wanted to get in on the action. In 2007, more than 1,000 students completed internships with more than 200 organizations in the public and private sector. The internship program is a joint effort between Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and is supported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ajcjobs and other organizations.

“The Mayors Youth Summer Employment and Training Program is made possible by our corporate partners who contribute so generously to Atlanta's youth by offering summer internships that provide them with an opportunity to grow and gain experience in an array of industries,” Franklin said in the article. “As a result, students are better prepared for the real world, and the next phases of their lives.”

The program worked to recruit companies, non-profit organizations and city agencies to provide the summer internships, which took place from June 2 to July 25. Each organization was asked to provide 35 to 40 hours of work per week and pay $8 to $12 per hour.

“The internships offered students real-world experiences that will help them compete in the world today,” Tom Hough, vice chairman, southeast area managing partner for Ernst & Young LLP and chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s Atlanta Public Schools Education Committee said in the article. “Education is the key to success, and in order to help our youth be successful in life, we must continue to encourage them to receive an education.”

The internship initiative is part of the Mayor's Youth Program, which helps Atlanta Public Schools’ graduating seniors map out a plan for success after high school. The program is administered out of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, which assists students with unmet needs that may hinder their entrance to the training or institution of their choice.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber has been involved with public schools for decades through the Atlanta Partners for Education, a joint venture of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Atlanta Public Schools.