Skill acquisition is one area we’ve seen make a real difference, especially for people who feel stuck or unsure about what direction to take in life. Many of the men and women we meet actually want to work and take care of themselves, but they just don’t have the right skills or exposure. So we try to step in by creating opportunities for them to learn practical skills that can help them earn a living and become more confident in what they can do.
Most times, the training sessions go beyond just learning a trade. People find community, they make friends, and they start believing in themselves again. Some of them come in looking confused or discouraged, but after a few weeks you can see the change — they talk differently, they act differently, and they finally feel like they have something to offer. And honestly, moments like that make all the effort worth it.
We know not everyone learns at the same pace, and sometimes things don’t go perfectly. But even with the little challenges here and there, we keep pushing because the goal is simple: to give people the tools they need to stand on their own. If someone can leave our training with a skill that helps them support their family or even start a small business, then we know we’ve done something meaningful.