Participants, however, are assigned to specific projects in their communities and work on projects until completion. Each participant is expected to serve nine months in the program. NTSP is open to all persons between the ages of 17 and 25. Because unemployment is a critical problem in this age group, most participants have come from among the unemployed. At the end of 1989, this group accounted for 21.3 percent of the population, a figure that is projected to rise to 27.5 percent by 2000.
Orientation takes place both at the beginning of a project and from time to time during the project.
Among the areas included in orientation are first aid, health education, personal development, field trips, disaster preparedness, physical training, and participants' attitudes, values and motivation. NTSP is designed to enable participants to serve in areas closest to their places of residence. The program is conducted with the active involvement of community groups and members. For example, NTSP does not undertake environmental work for a community, but with the community. Participants are free to choose the project areas in which they would like to serve.