By Fatma Khalfan Salim (YES 2017-2018, Kenya, placed by ACES in Oregon, OH)

My journey to self-awareness, success, and empowerment as a young woman started back in 2017 when I participated in the YES program. I did a lot of community service in Ohio, cultivating a long-lasting spirit of volunteerism. I also participated in Global Village on the Move (GVoM) in Türkiye in 2023, which inspired me to apply for a YES Alumni Grant.

I come from Malindi, a culturally rich and beautiful coastal town in Kenya. However beautiful, my community faces challenges when it comes to education. There is a high rate of school dropout due to various reasons, including financial constraints, teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and drug abuse. I wanted to organize the Mentoring for Occupational Success workshop because it addresses the root cause of most of the problems faced by youth in my community – unemployment.

During my time in Türkiye during GVoM, I witnessed how practical skills could turn lives around in the job market. For example, we visited a shop where women who had escaped domestic violence make and sell clothes, bags, and souvenirs. This inspired me to think of similar strategies that could be implemented in my own community, and I returned home with purpose and a desire to help my community grow. Instead of trying to lower the school dropout rate, my project focused on those who already dropped out or did not perform well enough in high school to ensure they have opportunity for growth and success.

In September, my project engaged 50 participants at the Muyeye Vocational Training Center. They received information about vocational training courses, including plumbing, hospitality, food and beverage production, mechanical engineering, tailoring, cosmetology, construction, computer science, and automotive engineering. Each of these courses take a maximum of one and a half years to complete, and after completion, graduates have acquired the skills needed to enter the job market.

The Office of the Members of Parliament spoke to participants about applying for scholarships and the types of jobs available after completion of the courses. Officials from the county government spoke about funding available to support individuals to start a business. Church leader Father Deshi Ramadhan from Indonesia encouraged participants not to give up on their dreams and to pursue skills based on their interests.

Overall, the project was a success with encouraging feedback from the facilitators, guests, and participants. Participants gained knowledge and confidence, and they made connections needed to pursue their dreams and unlock their full potential to contribute to their community. We will track participant entrance into the job market after graduation. Our local government has also promised scholarships to participants in need. The long-term goal is to lower the unemployment rate and that these 50 young people inspire other youth to become more independent.

I would like to give special thanks to all those who made this workshop a success, including the sponsor of the YES program, the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. I also thank my placement organization, ACES; the Sema Nami Mama Organization; the Office of the Member of Parliament; my local county government; Father Deshi; my fellow YES alumni; other volunteers; and all the participants.

The Sema Nami Mama Organization, which works to empower women and promote gender equality, sent representatives to inspire our participants, young women aged 18 to 23, to pursue these skills and become self-reliant. As one of the more vulnerable groups in our society, these young women stand to benefit greatly from the independence that skills training can offer.

In the words of Allan Bloom, “Education is the movement from darkness to light.” We hope this workshop helps our participants see light at the end of the tunnel.