I am Vanessa and I am 25 years old. Before the Young Community Builders, AC program, I was no longer studying and I didn't have a job either. In fact, I felt a little depressed about that aspect, because I felt like I was stuck and I felt like I couldn't find opportunities again that would give me what I was looking for, which was my personal improvement, earning my own income and being an independent person.

Furthermore, at the same time the pressure of age weighs, I tell you that I am 25 years old, people begin to ask me what are you doing in your life? What do you want for the future? So, the truth is I felt a little sad about that issue, since I hadn't stopped working for long, but I did start to question what direction I should take. So, before the program I did feel a little “down” and now I feel like I am the person I want.

Previously, when I started working, I had informal jobs, but little by little I began to insist and the last job was as an administrative assistant. I did basic tasks, but in the end the company decided that it was not the profile they were looking for and well, like in many parts of the country, they thank you and from one moment to the next they tell you: you know what, you already fulfilled your contract and now you do. that already leave you like in limbo, the truth is. Then, although sometimes there are opportunities outside, they do not cover what you are looking for.

In the future I would like to work a lot in social work. I would also like to study psychology and then in supporting people. I also have a little knowledge of tourism and, in fact, that is why I am a little more interested in the program because I saw that it is developed as such in the hotel and restaurant industry, and that is something that I would really like.

One of the informal jobs I had was working in a coffee shop. So I liked it, I would like to develop myself in that part, in dealing with people, although I don't know if I can develop it. So, having a cafeteria in the future or in social work, which I also really like, studying a short career.

I found out about the program from the advertisements that were in the community. In fact, I was very surprised that this type of program would be developed here in our neighborhood because it is not very common. So when I saw that there was this social support, that it was also free, that it was close to my home and that they offered quite a few opportunities, I was very surprised and said OK, maybe this is the opportunity I need! and that's how I found out with the posters that were there.

At first, in my family they took it with: “you better work, don't be, you better look for a job, look for something that will give you income.” But as the days have gone by, the truth is that they support me, they have seen that I like coming, I really like the classes and, furthermore, I thought, I know that the reward is going to be that, having a formal job and a growth opportunity.

I like the camaraderie of the program. The environment that is being created with the entire work team and really the topics that we deal with, because as our educators had told us, the first thing is to work on the inside so that what you have inside is reflected on the outside and if you Are you fine or have a personal balance because you are also going to professionalize it, so that is something that they have taught us a lot here and it is the part that I like.

After the program ends, I feel excited, that is, I think and it's like I'm going to have what I'm looking for, which is to have job stability and I like to feel that emotion. It's like when you visualize yourself in a place. It's what I like to feel, that I can feel an emotion of happiness or fulfillment and that's how I would like to feel, that's how I see myself and I believe that we are on the right path.

If there was one thing to change about me, it would be, perhaps, to be more daring, to take the opportunities that arise and remove doubts, to be a little more confident and say OK, yes, we are going to do this! and the consequences, well you have to make them positive and not be so afraid.

Of all the possibilities, one on my list of goals, I would choose my coffee shop. Yes, I mean, if they told me, "What do you want?", I would like to open a cafeteria, make it mine, because I like it a lot.

The love for the cafeteria was born because it was one of the informal jobs I had. What caught my attention was what the cafeteria means, for example, it's not just the coffee, not just serving, but what's behind a coffee, there's a conversation, there's an accompaniment. Why do you go to a cafe? Well, maybe having a companion with a person, a date, being with a friend, simply a moment of relaxation, that is, it is not the drink as such or it is not as such what they serve you to eat, but rather what that it generates in you or that is the experience that it generates in you.

I've been thinking, I've been thinking about some name for my coffee shop. I would like it to be “Sunset Red”, I would like it to be thematic. I still don't know very well, but I would like it to be “Sunset Red”.

And, in a single word, at the end of the program I see myself: Empowered!