PEP workshop on carrier development gives practical results

Vlora Ibrahimi, is known as the “smiley girl” J because of her happy nature. She is 17 and in her third year at the gymnasium in Gostivar. In November she was one of a group of teachers and students who attended a PEP seminar on career education. The seminar was part of PEP’s workforce development component and was aimed at not only giving the student participants knowledge and skills for improving their career prospects but also to advise them on setting up career centres in their schools.

Vlora praised the PEP coordinators and trainers and said, “I felt so free with them, learned a lot and still have this huge positive courage in me to open a career centre so other students can experience the same emotions as I did …. I can say that this seminar …. helped me a lot to know myself better and for that I will always be thankful.”

The skills that Vlora learned in the seminar were of practical use to her when she returned home. She is youth leader within Red Cross in Gostivar and decided to apply for the Red Cross Helsinki Committee winter school where the main topic was ‘tolerance and human rights’. Vlora applied using all the information and knowledge she got in the PEP seminar.  Vlora continues the story in her own words:

“I filled my CV and wrote a cover letter using the knowledge and materials that I was given during this seminar. I was writing following the motto: be short and clear but convinced. This is something that I got from the seminar as well. On 4th January I received a phone call. I answered and they told me that they were calling me from Helsinki Committee and they wanted to ask me some questions. The first thing I did was to relax just like [my trainers] taught me. I was so prepared and so confidant and felt like I was interviewed by [my trainers]. The conversation lasted just 5 minutes. She [the interviewer] stopped me saying that she was impressed by my C.V, motivation letter and mostly with my freedom in the conversation. I was very happy and the first thing I did was writing a thank you letter to [the PEP] team.

In her letter, Vlora is looking forward to attending the Helsinki seminar, but finishes by saying she wants to help other students by opening a career centre in her school.