Since taking part in the Futuremakers project ‘YES’, Ladji* from Côte d’Ivoire has gained stable employment and has dreams of becoming a small-scale entrepreneur.
Project YES in Côte d’Ivoire offers employability and entrepreneurship training to help young people enter the job market or start their own businesses, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity.
Ladji and several other young people with disabilities have actively participated in the project, which ensures necessary accommodations for each participant.
After achieving his master’s degree in Private Law, Ladji initially struggled to find employment in his field despite numerous applications. Upon learning about Project YES through a mentor, he visited SOS Children’s Villages for more information and decided to enrol with the aim of gaining new skills through the project’s diverse training opportunities.
Within a few months, Ladji had built confidence in job search techniques, CV and cover letter writing, interview preparation, ICT, and entrepreneurship.
Inspired by these courses, he resumed his job search with renewed confidence and secured a position as a sales agent at a telecommunications company in Aboisso.
The training also developed Ladji’s sense of community leadership and enhanced his digital skills. Now, Ladji can confidently expresses himself in public and creates communication materials such as flyers, brochures, business cards, logos, and other creative materials for small businesses.
Looking ahead, Ladji feels confident that the entrepreneurship and skills training he received has equipped him well for his new venture and he now hopes to establish his own small business,
“The YES project is a true channel of success for me and for any young person seeking employment and learning opportunities. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the managers and sponsors of the YES project for all the quality training provided to us.” says Ladji.
*Names have been changed to protect the young person’s privacy.