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I learned about Kairos International at a very crucial time in my life when I had no hope of continuing with my secondary school education. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic had ruined all my plans of going back to school. My parents had no money to push me further through my studies. It was at this point that I applied for the opportunity at Kairos and to my luck, I was admitted into the program. I recall being filled with so much joy and excitement upon hearing the good news of excelling in the interviews During the program, I learned so much from the mentorship sessions. Through sharing my real-life experiences with my mentor, I gained the courage to work hard to achieve my goal of becoming a professional barista. I also learned how to be honest with myself. I remember my mentor told me, “You can lie to people, but you can’t lie to yourself.” I was able to reflect on this point and correct myself to start living an honest and truthful lifestyle. One of my favorite business classes was the Marketing and Sales course, in which I learned that the customer is vital to the success of any business. This was a call for me to create good customer relations to help the growth of my business. While practicing my trade, I am keen to pay attention to the customer's needs. As I advance in my skills, I hope to continue earning a living for my future. I am so grateful to God for the opportunity for me to be a part of the Kairos International program. I also want to encourage youths out there to have hope and take up opportunities available, like here at Kairos International, for them to succeed in life.

I graduated in March 2023 with a certificate in holistic development from Kairos International along with a skills certificate in auto mechanics. I currently have a part-time job at the nearby supermarket and on the other days of the week, I dedicate my time to practicing my trade. Through the program, I learned a lot through mentorship. My mentor guided me in managing my time better and making good decisions. I also learned how to set clear goals and priorities which was essential for my development. For example, my mentor advised me to see the value in talking to my friends about my side business creating bangles (bracelets). By taking his advice, I saw growth in my business, and I now have an increased level of motivation. I also learned so many business skills from the Sales and Marketing course. I learned how to interact and talk to my customers which has helped me market my products. Particularly, I have utilized persuasive advertisements to sell the bangles that I make for my customers. Through the program, I chose to pursue a skill in motor mechanics because I am someone who loves vehicles a lot. When I was growing up, a car owner once told me that things would be easier if all car owners had the skills to maintain their cars. This gave me the idea of pursuing motor vehicle mechanics and the motivation to tap into my potential as a mechanic. I plan to utilize the skills I have gained to render car repair services to my clients and expand my network by working collaboratively with other mechanics in this field.

During my time at Kairos, the mentorship sessions played a helpful role in my life. For a big part of my life, I struggled with bitterness and hate. Through mentorship, I was taught how to deal with forgiveness and how to let go of bitterness and grudges. I was able to process my whole life journey with my mentor. I have seen noticeable changes in my daily life, as well as just overall feeling lighter and more free. From the business program, the Marketing, Sales, and Presentation courses were my favorite courses. I enjoyed the lecturer because he was so interactive and encouraging. Through that course, I learned how to market myself. The lecturer made known to me that ‘we not only market products but ourselves too. With that guidance, I learned how to take good care of myself, and it has improved my relationships and interactions with the people around me. While growing up I was constantly criticized by my own parents and peers. They considered me as someone weak and unable to achieve certain things in life. I chose to pursue my dream of becoming a mechanic because I wanted to prove that this profession was not only for boys. I was also encouraged by a Kairos alum, Vicky, who had pursued the same trade. Her success gave me added hope that it would be possible for me to achieve my dream of becoming a female mechanic. Having now achieved some skills in this trade, my goal is to further my studies. I intend to pursue a diploma in motor vehicle engineering in one of the public institutions after which I will search for employment as a professional mechanic.