TIRANA, ALBANIA     USAID’s People First project is wrapping up its outreach efforts to youth to encourage them to apply for their job skills development and employment program. This project will include vocational training in tourism, hands-on work experience in the People First Boutique Hotel in Dhermi, and job placement.  So far, the project has met with over 350 youth in Korca, Shkodra, Tirana, Gjirokastra, Durres, and Vlora.  They are also working with municipalities, job centers, schools, and universities to identify potential program participants.  In April, the project signed a memorandum of understanding with the Professional College in order to cooperate on tourism trainings, developing and improving tourism curricula, and improving certification of the trained candidates. The project also work with UNDP’s Roma project to include Roma and other marginalized youth. By the end of the two-year project, People First intends to employ 2,000 young people.