May 10, 2024 In Blog, Case Stories By WACSI
Dare to Dream: How WACSI’s Internship Opened Doors for a Burkinabe Graduate
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“The skills I gained from WACSI have been instrumental in my current role. From organising workshops to managing participants, I draw on my experiences at WACSI every day.”
– Carmelle Marie Sergine Kabore, 2019 alumna, WACSI’s Next Generation Internship Programme.
Statistics reveal a sobering reality about Burkina Faso: youth unemployment rates in the country are among the highest in West Africa. According to the World Bank, the youth unemployment rate in the country stood at 6.6% in 2020, significantly higher than the global average. This lack of employment opportunities not only hinders economic growth but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and social instability. Furthermore, research by the World Bank indicates that youth in Africa face significant hurdles in accessing quality education, meaningful employment, and opportunities for leadership roles. In Burkina Faso, these challenges are particularly acute.
Adding to the woes, the country is paralysed by a lack of opportunities for leadership roles for the youth, exacerbating the problem. A study by the International Labour Organisation found that only 6% of youth in sub-Saharan Africa are in wage employment with a contract. Most young people are engaged in informal and often precarious work, with limited prospects for advancement.
For Carmelle Marie Sergine Kabore, a young graduate of gender, population, and development from the Pan African Institute for Development West Africa and Sahel Region, in Burkina Faso, these challenges hit close to home. Growing up in her country, Burkina Faso, she witnessed firsthand the pressing issues faced by her community. The lack of access to quality education, limited employment opportunities for the youth, and social inequalities deeply troubled her. Eager to make a difference in her country, Kabore felt a strong sense of responsibility to contribute to its development.
However, as she completed her studies and stepped into the professional world, Kabore soon realised that her academic qualifications alone were not enough to address the complex challenges facing her community and her country. Despite her passion and determination, she found herself grappling with the harsh reality of the job market. Like many of her peers, she struggled to find avenues to develop her skills and build a career in development-related fields that could help her contribute to positive change in her community.
Reflecting on her early struggles, Kabore vividly recalls the frustration she felt.
“I felt a strong desire to contribute to the development of my country, but I lacked the practical experience and skills needed to make a meaningful impact,” she said. It was a pivotal moment for her as she recognised the gap between her aspirations and the resources available to her.
Undeterred by the challenges, Kabore remained committed to her goal of creating positive change in Burkina Faso. She knew that she needed to equip herself with practical experiences and skills to make a real difference. However, opportunities for professional development were scarce. Kabore found herself at a crossroads.
Her journey took a transformative turn when she participated in the Young African Leadership Programme (YALI) in Accra in 2019. It was there that she first encountered the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and learnt about its Next Generation Internship Programme (NGIP) in one of the sessions.
She recounted the moment: “WACSI’s presentation was like a beacon of hope for me. Finally, here was an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and build my skills.”
The NGIP, designed to provide hands-on experience and training to young professionals, proved to be the catalyst Kabore needed. After going through a highly competitive recruitment session, Kabore was selected for WACSI’s NGIP in the latter part of 2019.
Her expectations were clear: “I wanted to strengthen my organisational and managerial skills, improve my English proficiency, and build professional networks beyond Burkina Faso.”
As she embarked on her internship journey with WACSI, she had high hopes of gaining valuable skills and insights that would equip her for a career in development work.
During her journey, she was immersed in a dynamic learning environment where she worked under the Capacity Development Unit.
“I was involved in every aspect of capacity strengthening from organising training sessions to contributing to fundraising efforts and assisting in monitoring and evaluation activities,” she vividly described her experience.
She fondly reminisced about the tailored training sessions: “The training sessions were invaluable. I learnt everything from report and proposal writing to project management and data collection.
Each session equipped me with practical skills that I could immediately apply.”
The experience at WACSI not only equipped Kabore with practical skills but also broadened her horizons. She learnt to navigate a multicultural environment and communicate effectively in English, enhancing her professional competence.
“My time at WACSI was transformative. I grew not only as a professional but also as an individual,” Carmelle reflected.
After completing her internship with WACSI, Kabore returned to Burkina Faso armed with newfound confidence and skills. She secured another internship and later a job with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Burkina Faso, a regional civil society organisation, where she currently serves as a Programme Assistant under the Women, Peace, and Security Unit.
“The skills I gained from WACSI have been instrumental in my current role,” Kabore affirmed. “From organising workshops to managing participants, I draw on my experiences at WACSI every day” she added.
Beyond her professional development, Kabore’s journey with WACSI had a far-reaching impact on the continent. She became actively involved in the African Youth Initiative for Development, a youth-led organisation where she serves as the Executive Director.
Drawing on her experiences, she spearheaded initiatives to empower young people in social entrepreneurship, securing funding and implementing projects that positively influenced the lives of numerous youths in Burkina Faso.
“My time at WACSI instilled in me a sense of duty to give back to my community … I aimed to utilise my skills and knowledge to create opportunities for other young people like myself,” Kabore explained.
Looking towards the future, Kabore harbours lofty aspirations. Inspired by her experiences and motivated by a desire to enact meaningful change, she envisions a future where she can lead a robust and impactful women’s civil society organisation in Burkina Faso.
“I firmly believe that with the skills and knowledge I have acquired, I can make a significant contribution to the growth and development of my country,” she declared.
NGIP traces its origins back to 2008, emerging as a robust six-month initiative dedicated to honing skills among Africa’s youth. Over its lifespan, the NGIP has equipped 74 individuals from 17 diverse African nations.
Kabore’s story serves as a testament to the transformative potential of initiatives like WACSI’s NGIP.
With your support, you can help turn dreams like hers into reality. Contributing just USD $10 to WACSI’s NGIP means you’re playing a role in shaping the future of young people in Africa. Invest in the skills of a young African to propel Africa forward—contact us to donate via info@kwamea17.sg-host.com.
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