Youth in focus: An interview with Hadia A.

Hadia A. is from Nablus. She graduated in 2014 from An-Najah National University with a degree in Social Work and Sociology.

What made you apply for STEP!?

I was interested in applying for STEP! in order to gain experience in dealing with children and to learn more about their needs and the problems they face. I knew I would find the program both personally and professionally rewarding - especially because of my academic background in social work, a career I hope to pursue in the future.

What new skills have your learned through the program?

The most important skill I have learned is team-building skills by working in groups in the classroom with children. I have also improved my leadership skills by supporting children and groups during activities. Also, I've been able to learn more about the much needed skills in the field of Social Work and how to be objective in dealing with others.

What are your career goals and do you feel that STEP! helped you get closer to those goals?

I’m planning to work in my field of study as a social worker. TYO’s STEP! program helped me gain experience in working with children - especially with children ages four and five years old, as I had never worked with this age group previously. I now have a much better idea of how to work with them in the future, how to solve their problems and how to understand them more.

 What do you think is the biggest challenge for youth like you in the current labor market?

I think that the biggest challenge is that they cannot easily find jobs. Now, people rely on "wasta" or nepotism to secure a job and we feel that if we don’t have a strong connections or networks, we cannot get a job easily.

-Interview conducted by Volunteer Coordinator, Ruba Hafayda

This program is funded by the Abdel Hameed Shoman Foundation (AHSF)