The unemployment rate in Kenya is currently at 40% with 70% of the unemployed population being the youth. According to a job market survey report commissioned by leading job website Brighter Monday and research firm TIFA, a majority of those unemployed are aged between 18 to 29 years.
I happen to be one of the many unemployed youths today. After completing school last year November 2017, I had so much energy and was optimistic about securing a job in today’s competitive job market. I applied to several organizations with the hope of getting a job but I kept getting responses like, “we shall get back to you”. After one month of tremendous efforts of looking for a job, I came across this training program on Fuzu. I quickly opened the link to see what the program was about because the heading was super catchy and enticing to someone like me, jobless and with no adequate experience. After successfully applying for the program, I went to Google to find out more about Yusudi. I was happy with what I found. Yusudi is a social enterprise that was founded by two amazing ladies namely; Charlotte De Ridder and Nastia Gutsol. They are from Belgium and Ukraine respectively. Yusudi is focused on developing youth through interactive, practical, and personalized life skill training. It envisions a world where every young person has an opportunity to develop and apply their best talents for self–fulfillment. Deep down, I knew this would be more than a wonderful opportunity for me but I was not sure if I would hear from them after sending my application. I told God to make this happen if it is truly meant to happen and Wow! After weeks of waiting, I finally heard from Yusudi. I received an invitation to go for assessment which would later determine whether I could qualify to join the program or not.
I knew I had to prepare thoroughly for the assessment in order to qualify to join the training program. I remember that day vividly as if it were yesterday. I remember waking up early that Monday morning, I prepared myself and left the house for Hurlingham where Yusudi offices are based. I got there in good time as I was requested to be there by 8 a.m. Here I met other people who had come for the assessment just like me.
The assessment went well, and by 11a.m we were done. We were told to wait for feedback which would be sent later via the email. I was so excited when I got an email from Yusudi after 3 days of waiting. I had qualified to join the program which was set to begin in March 2018.
I was looking forward to starting the program. My time came and now I am at Yusudi as a trainee. They are training us on the much-needed life and work skills to enable us to grow professionally, I am confident to say that my life has been transformed. I have become this self-motivated, enthusiastic individual with excellent communication, networking, negotiating, interview and transferable skills that I have learned from the awesome trainers and fellow trainees.
Yusudi offers a learner-friendly environment by encouraging teamwork and fostering friendship. This is the place to be if you are a fresh graduate because they train on the key soft skills that will help you stand out in the current labour market.
My family is proud of me, my peers are proud of me, but most of all, I am proud of myself for not giving up. Yusudi has given me a step by step guidance on how to grow myself and become a better version of me. My biggest win at Yusudi is learning and understanding how to create a career path tailored for me and that allows me to work with my skills to reach my end goal. Yusudi has truly changed my life.
If you are a recent graduate looking to build your career and make a name for yourself in the working world, Yusudi is the place for you. The 8 months program offered includes, a 2-month training on the specific key areas and thereafter, applicants who perform well during the training, get a paid internship placement for 6 months or more depending on how well they make use of the skills gained.
I have learned that if you are persistent, you will get it, and if you are consistent, you will keep it. Choice, not circumstances, determines your success.
This article was written by Eunice Kiarie, a trainee with Yusudi.
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