I Create New Career Pathways For Under-Resourced Youths | Extraordinary People

Key Concepts

• Social Entrepreneurship: A model of business that prioritizes social impact alongside profit.
• Digital Skills: Proficiency in using digital technologies, particularly relevant for modern workplaces.
• Workplace Readiness: Equipping individuals with the skills, values, and attitudes necessary for employment.
• Personal Experimentation: A process of trying new things and learning from the experience, especially in personal development.
• Youth Development: Programs and initiatives aimed at supporting the growth and well-being of young people.
• Community Building: The process of fostering connections and a sense of belonging among individuals.
• Kita: A Bahasa word meaning "we" or "ours," signifying shared identity and belonging.
• Hatch: An earlier social enterprise focused on youth development.
• GA (Generative Aspirations): A new initiative born from Hatch, focusing on community and individual journeys.
• Kita Labs: A modality under Kita, offering space for personal experimentation and project completion.
• $100 Project Lab: A specific program within Kita Labs, emphasizing personal development projects with limited resources.

Darish's Journey: From Academic Struggles to Social Impact

Darish, at 25, shares his unconventional educational path. While excelling in primary school without much effort, he struggled to adapt to secondary school's study demands. This led to a complicated educational history and difficulty in defining his career path. He highlights that "grades are not an accurate representation of who you are and what you can be." This realization, coupled with the feeling of isolation that often accompanies dropping out of school, prompted him to seek ways to create a positive impact.

The Genesis of Social Entrepreneurship

The concept of social entrepreneurship emerged as a significant turning point for Darish, resonating with his desire to make a difference. He observed that many individuals, despite lacking formal academic qualifications, possess valuable skills. He believes in providing opportunities for these individuals to acquire digital skills, gain a foothold in the workforce, and then "shine on their own."

Priya's Transition to Purpose-Driven Marketing and Education

Priya, with 15 years of marketing experience, transitioned to starting her own business focused on marketing and communications consultancy for purpose-driven brands. When presented with the opportunity to teach, she embraced it, seeing it as a natural extension of her expertise. She emphasizes the importance of analyzing strengths and weaknesses to understand current positioning.

Rethinking Content Delivery in Education

Priya contrasts traditional, lecture-focused educational settings with a more approachable, bite-sized approach. She advocates for providing ample practice time and engaging in group projects that allow for practical application. This methodology benefits both learners and educators, fostering a collaborative learning environment. She also notes the inclusion of social-emotional learning as a significant advantage, something often absent in regular schooling.

The National Youth Council Grant and the Birth of Kita

A significant catalyst for the initiative was a grant from the National Youth Council focused on "workplace readiness or future-ready skills." Darish and a group of friends submitted a proposal, driven by their hypothesis that companies repeatedly post job descriptions because they struggle to find suitable candidates. Their hypothesis was based on observing job portals and noticing the frequency of identical job postings from the same companies, suggesting a persistent hiring challenge.

Securing the Grant and Launching the Initiative

Unexpectedly, their grant application was successful, providing them with the necessary resources to pursue their vision. This grant empowered them to move forward with their plans, transforming their ideas into action. This led to the establishment of their first program, which began with three learners and grew to 15 students in its first year, with subsequent batches of learners.

Addressing Youth Needs and Fostering Community

The organization recognizes that youth often have multifaceted needs beyond skill development, including family support, mental health, financial assistance, and shelter. They actively collaborate with partner organizations to address these diverse needs.

The Power of Shared Experience and Loneliness

A facilitated exercise revealed that loneliness was a significant concern for the youth, particularly after disengaging from previous support systems. The experience of facing new environments and unfamiliar faces often led to anxiety and nervousness. The program aims to mitigate this by fostering a sense of belonging and shared identity.

The Evolution from Hatch to GA (Generative Aspirations)

The initial social enterprise, Hatch, founded in 2018, was found to be insufficient in meeting the needs of the youth. This led to the evolution into GA (Generative Aspirations), a new initiative with a different identity. The name "Kita," meaning "we" or "ours" in Bahasa, was chosen because it originated from the youth themselves and embodies a sense of belonging and shared identity. Hatch continues to operate as a social enterprise, while two founding team members transitioned to GA.

Betty's Story: From Poly Dropout to Digital Marketing Success

Betty, a polytechnic dropout who was previously studying design, shares her experience. Burnout from her studies, coupled with personal circumstances at home, led her to drop out. Her mother was initially upset, urging her to find employment. Betty joined the program with low expectations of making friends but found a supportive group of peers from similar backgrounds. This shared experience provided comfort and a sense of understanding, as they could empathize with each other's challenges.

The Impact of Mentorship and Personal Growth

Betty learned a crucial lesson about herself: her work must have a positive impact on others. The program provided guidance and a sense of not being alone in figuring things out. She was later involved in program management for other learners, demonstrating her growth and capability.

The $100 Project Lab: Experimentation and Self-Discovery

The $100 Project Lab, under Kita Labs, is designed to create a space for personal experimentation. The commitment for participants is to undertake and complete a personal development project. The success of the project is not measured by skill proficiency or liking the activity, but by the learning gained about oneself, including strengths, interests, and future aspirations. This clarity is deemed paramount.

Shira's Poetry Book: A Tangible Outcome of Experimentation

Shira's journey exemplifies the $100 Project Lab. Inspired by an English teacher in secondary school, she developed a passion for writing poetry. The lab provided her with the opportunity to self-publish her poetry book. This involved selecting poems, deciding on the order, and including a trigger warning for sensitive topics. The process also included the physical aspects of printing and assembling the book, which she found to be a therapeutic and fulfilling accomplishment. She reflects, "I felt like it was an accomplishment. Because it is like physical book and the content is like written originally by me. So I was like oh like oh this is such an achievement."

Launching Kita: Defining Identity and Sharing the Vision

The launch of Kita was a significant event, marking the first time they were "announcing to the world." The team focused on articulating the core messages, the meaning of Kita, and the values they stand for. This process involved honoring the aspirations of everyone involved and ensuring their efforts were accurately represented. The launch event celebrated the journeys of the youth, highlighting their individual stories and the impact of the organization's work beyond mere numbers.

Overcoming Setbacks and Embracing the Journey

A core belief shared is that everyone is working towards a destination meant for them, and the path to get there can be unique. Setbacks are not seen as endpoints but as opportunities for the next chapter. The journey involves navigating difficult, isolating, and sometimes ugly parts, alongside the pretty ones.

Building a Community of Support and Connection

The creation of a community of youths from "all walks of life" who "live and grow old together" is a deeply fulfilling aspect. Being present for each other and offering support on a human connection level is highly valued. The launch event was a celebration of these journeys and the collective growth experienced. The initiative aims to provide opportunities for youth to acquire digital skills, gain a foothold in the workplace, and "shine on their own." The event also helped people understand the organization's work on a deeper level, recognizing the individual stories behind the statistics.