Mohamed was raised in a small village in central Amman and is the seventh of twelve children. Mohamed's whole family had to be supported by his father’s army pension.
Mohamed always dreamt of becoming a chef and someday to own his own restaurant. However, due to his family’s financial situation, he never thought that his dream would come true. His family struggled to put Mohamed through high school, while his younger siblings are still waiting to be enrolled.
When Mohamed learned of the Youth Career Initiative programme through an organization that works in his local community, he decided to take the chance and applied for a place.
He was accepted in the programme following interviews with YCI Supporting Partner HM Queen Rania’s charity, the Jordan River Foundation, and the Sheraton Amman Hotel, where Mohamed undertook his training. Mohamed remembers being very nervous, and did not think that he would be accepted due to his background.
The Programme
During the programme, Mohamed attended English and computer skills classes and various other lectures. One of the sessions he enjoyed the most was the professional presentation class where he learned about having a professional image and the importance of body language, work attitudes and behaviours as well as personal care habits.
Mohamed successfully finished the intensive 6-month training programme along with 13 fellow participants of the pilot YCI Jordan. The Marriott Amman and the Four Seasons Amman also took part in the first YCI programme in the Middle East.
"I would have had no future if it wasn’t for the Youth Career Initiative."
Outcomes Thanks to YCI, Mohamed admits he has experienced a dramatic change in his attitude to life. Before the programme, he was very defensive about his background and lacked communication skills. He is now more willing and open to sharing knowledge with his colleagues and friends. He has been able to improve his communication skills through learning from the hotel managers and other mentors at the hotel, but above all he has become a responsible person, and he learned that he is in charge of his future.
Inspired by his mentors at the hotel, and based on his own experience, Mohamed now talks to other young people in his local community in order to advise them on how to face up to difficult, challenging circumstances and personal situations. He encourages them to have dreams and hopes for the future.
Following completion of the programme, Mohamed successfully applied for a job at the Sheraton Amman Hotel where he is currently a full time employee. He enjoys his role as kitchen commis (junior cook). He is now on his way to realising his dream of becoming a chef in a five-star hotel.
Mohamed is very thankful to YCI, the Sheraton Amman Hotel and the Jordan River Foundation for giving him and others such a great opportunity, for being patient with him and provide him with the skill set that will enable him to work his way up the career ladder.