2020 Change was a life changing experience for me, both personally and professionally.

I started the programme with the mindset of “I want to do better, I want to be better”. However, what I got from the programme is more than what I could have ever anticipated. Completing the ‘I Am Change’ programme has allowed me to navigate my career and passions more clearly.

Supporting and encouraging young people is one of my many passions and 2020 Change allowed me to fulfil this by connecting me with the Damilola Taylor Trust (DTT). I successfully passed the interview stages and became a Youth Board member for DTT. This experience has allowed me to work with like-minded individuals, where we generate and discuss ideas on youth programme development, as well as giving young people a voice and platform to be heard and seen. Similarly, I applied to become a Junior Facilitator for 2020 Change, where we helped to deliver the ‘I Am Change’ programme to a group of students after school. These opportunities have allowed me to put my dreams into action.

Through 2020 Change I was able to secure an internship at Alpha Grove Community Centre, as a Marketing and Strategy Intern. This opportunity equipped me with many transferable skills and pinpointed where I wanted to take my career. I was able to support the Charity, build their online presence, carry out interviews with stakeholders and offer strategic advice on how to build programmes to attract and help more young people in the local community.

Furthermore, these experiences offered me guidance and direction. As a result, I was able to secure my most recent job role, in which I can see a clear career progression in a role I'm passionate about and love. 

Where I am now, is a result of my hard work, commitment to my growth and the support that 2020 Change have shown me for the last year and a half. The opportunities and doors that are available to you when completing the programme is more than you can imagine. The 2020 Change experience does not end after you complete the programme, it’s an ongoing experience of love and support.