Friday, July 6 – Today, I went to a non-profit organization called Harambee that acts as a bridge connecting youth from underprivileged backgrounds to amazing employment opportunities. The organization is for those students that graduate high school, and for some students that have finished college, who may lack the skills that most employers look for when hiring a candidate. Harambee works with young people to develop the skills that they need to be employed (skills that they may not have ever had before – like looking for a job or working on a computer). One thing that I really like about Harambee is that they not only provide youth with networks but also teach them how to use those networks. Since its start in 2011, over 50,000 young adults have successfully completed Harambee’s bridge program.
This organization is making a change in South Africa, a country that is generally struggling with unemployment, especially with youth. Harambee made me see that anything is really possible and something is happening, something big. Also, they are nonprofit. They don’t charge anyone for wanting help. Harambee gives youth the tools to do everything, and they don’t have to pay for anything. The way that they get their money is through social investors. I found that so interesting because I never would think so successful a business would be a nonprofit. Another thing I found amazing was that Harambee checks up on the people they have helped. What I mean by that is, they would talk to managers to make sure that the youth from Harambee go to work, and that they get good opportunities while working. Harambee really believes in their students and wants these people to go far in life (rightly so). When we saw who the students are, it was amazing because the way that they talk is great. I get to see what they think and how they carry themselves. The people in this organization are very smart. I believe that their voices will make a change wherever they go.
This experience impacted me because I would love for this to be in DC. There are plenty of people in their family homes without a job or on the street. I have never seen anything like Harambee in DC. The only thing I can say it’s close to is the Marion Barry summer job program. That is specifically for the youth. It helps minors have something to do over the summer other than nothing. If a minor had to go to summer school, they could go to summer school while getting paid through that program.
I feel like I can take all these ideas and mindsets back to the States. Trying to make where I come from a better place. This trip, in general, has changed the way I think, and how I will proceed in life.
Diajhee M., Eastern High School