Apple program to provide training and mentoring for young talents

This year's Today at Apple Creative Studios, a program that aims to provide trainings for young talents, was launched by Apple Inc on Tuesday. Participants from 14 cities around the world will receive training and career-building mentoring in the upcoming weeks.

The curricula will cover areas like mobile app design, storytelling, photography and filmmaking, as well as music and podcast productions.

Participants will receive hands-on education, training and feedback on their projects. They will be encouraged to think about how their talents can bring forward changes in their communities, the company says.

Now running into its second year, the six-week session, in coorperating with Beijing-based China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, will feature photography and videography trainings for young migrant workers to help them tell their own stories.

Part of the session will also be available for the public through registration.

Last year, around 90 people aged between 16 and 25 joined the 12-week program in the capital to learn from three experienced practitioners, namely Shi Lu, drummer of the rock band Hedgehog, mobile app designer Sun Yong and iPhone photographer Zhang Yu. Their projects of interest were presented to the public in October.

Participants came from all walks of life. Some worked as merchants, waiters, welders or in other front line positions.

"Everyone can be creative. Everyone has something to contribute," said trainee Wang Qian, librarian of a charity library at Picun village, a migrant workers' community in suburban Beijing, during the closing ceremony of last year's program.

According to Apple, over 400 young people from Chicago, Washington, New York City, London, Paris, Bangkok and Beijing joined last year's program.

"Our stores have long provided a platform to showcase the great talents of local artists, and our retail teams are proud to play a role in supporting creativity within their communities and creating a place where everyone is welcomed," said Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice-president of Retail + People.

She said the company is enormously grateful to the staff and local partners who together make it possible for them to expand access to free arts education and mentorship to even more communities.