Jemina Akhter (18) is a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) graduate from its 1st Cohort. Jemina comes from Cox’s Bazar; she is the second among her parents seven daughters. Her father being the only wage-earner for the family, Jemina had to stop schooling once COVID-19 hit the country and her father’s income plunged to a new low. Dropped out from school, Jemina had no clue on how she could help her family.

Jemina and some other youths of the community were members of a youth club. There, her friend Musa informed her about YCC. Musa learned about YCC trainee recruitment from a Facebook circular. Informed by Musa, Jemina thought YCC could be her golden opportunity to help her family. She learned that YCC is offering a 5-months residential training program and one month internship along with vocational skills training, free of cost. Jemina applied and following a competitive process, was selected as a trainee.

“I have never known or thought about the importance of time management in my life. I learned it from here. My confidence grew. I can speak in front of an audience now”, says Jemina. She believes that the YCC training has opened many new horizons for her. she learned about leadership, natural resource management, conservation of environment, personal hygiene, gender relations and so on. 

For vocational training, Jemina received training on tailoring. With the seed money she received from YCC, Jemina bought a sewing machine and is currently working as a home-based tailor. She is receiving order for clothes, shoelaces, and washable sanitary napkins. She is currently earning BDT 3700 (USD 40 apx.) a month from her tailoring business. Jemina is in close communication with her fellow graduates through YCC Youth Network. 

Jemina plans to start her own tailoring shop and teach her sisters tailoring too. She also dreams of pursuing her education again which had to stop due to poverty.