Earning close to minimum wage and struggling to make ends meet, Ihesha never thought she could do more. Driven to provide a better life for daughter, she joined the YW Jobs program (YWJ) and began to envision new possibilities for herself and her future.
After working with her case coordinator to explore job opportunities and practice her interviewing skills, Ihesha interviewed for a job at a local call center. Although she didn’t have any experience, the interviewer was impressed by both her enthusiasm and background in customer service. She was offered the job that same day!
Within six months, Ihesha was promoted and is now working as the company receptionist. “The thing that I like about my job the most is that I’m basically the glue here,” she says. “With other jobs, I didn’t really feel important.”
Since starting YWJ, Ihesha has nearly doubled her salary. Her new earnings mean she can now afford an apartment for herself and her daughter. She’s proud to be on her own. “$15 an hour for me and my daughter is stability,” she explains. “I’m really making my ends meet and I couldn’t do that with $8 an hour.”