After a few years of improvement, the global youth unemployment rate has returned to a level close to its all-time high, according to new data from the International Labor Organization. An estimated 71 million young people ages 15-24 are currently looking for work but can’t find it.
“Ambitions Interrupted: 35 Dream Jobs” is a digital media project from The GroundTruth Project’s YouthVoices initiative that celebrates the humanity of youth who are not giving up despite the grim numbers. Their stories demonstrate the remarkable in the unremarkable – the resilience and personal triumphs within the difficult journey from education to employment and, perhaps, landing a dream job.
In March, The GroundTruth Project, in partnership with RTI International, the Global Center for Youth Employment and The Huffington Post, asked young people from around the world, “What is your dream job? What’s standing in your way?” A panel of judges selected these 35 winners from hundreds of compelling entries from dozens of countries.
The 35 are working to become farmers, doctors, journalists, engineers and diplomats. They represent the human potential behind the sky-high youth unemployment rates, economic inequality and political disenchantment. They are the real voices of youth demonstrating the power of their own stories.
We invite you to share your own story and opinions on the YouthVoices platform.
Name: Ntipa Chola
Age: 18
Dream Job: Surgeon
City, Country: Lusaka, Zambia
Current job/school: Math tutor
Challenge: Can’t afford university
Name: Débora Souza Silva
Age: 35
Dream Job: Documentary filmmaker and social entrepeneur
City, Country: Oakland, California
Current job/school: Independent journalist
Challenge: Funding reporting projects
Name: Mercy Muwaneyi
Age: 19
Dream Job: Journalist
City, Country: Lusaka, Zambia
Current job/school: High school student
Challenge: Discouraging environment
Name: Adriene Cabalinan
Age: 24
Dream job: Documentary filmmaker
City, Country: Midsayap, Philippines
Current job/school: Knowledge management officer at a humanitarian organization
Challenge: Low wages in the documentary film industry
Name: Francis Kessy
Age: 26
Dream Job: United Nations diplomat
City, Country: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Current job/school: General manager of Agripro Tanzania Limited
Challenge: Lack of networking connections
Name: Jacob Jewel C. Tabo
Age: 20
Dream Job: Engineer
City, Country: Antipolo City, Philippines
Current job/school: Electronics engineering student
Challenge: Lack of access to travel
Name: Rodrigo Elías Monge Rivas
Age: 20
Dream Job: Computers and networks engineer
City, Country: Ciudad Merliot, El Salvador
Current job/school: Computer switching and routing college student
Challenge: Financial difficulty
Name: Karianne Bag-ayan
Age: 18
Dream Job: Engineer
City, Country: Baguio City, Philippines
Current job/school: Agricultural engineering student
Challenge: Financial difficulties, pressure from parents
Name: Levy Mbewe
Age: 22
Dream job: Computer engineer
City, Country: Lusaka, Zambia
Current job/school: Studying information systems, coaching kids part-time
Challenge: Financial resources are my biggest challenge
Name: Fatima Nicole R. Intal
Age: 17
Dream job: Motivational coach
City, Country: Manila, Philippines
Current job/school: Civil engineering college student
Challenge: The depth of dedication and sacrifice required to achieve this dream
Name: Khensani Ruth Mahwayi
Age: 23
Dream job: Filmmaker (producing, directing, scriptwriting)
City, Country: Johannesburg, South Africa
Current job/school: Not working or studying
Challenge: Can’t afford university
Name: Ruth Nyambe
Age: 18
Dream job: Journalist
City, Country: Lusaka, Zambia
Current job/school: Applying to college
Challenge: Financial difficulties
Name: Zahrina Ghassani Diyanda
Age: 23
Dream job: Government public asset manager
City, Country: Jakarta, Indonesia
Current job/school: Management support for a real estate company
Challenge: Reversing corruption in an unpopular industry
Name: Sarah M. Chiteta
Age: 21
Dream job: Writer
City, Country: Lusaka, Zambia
Current job/school: Part-time math coach
Challenge: Lack of role models, financial difficulties
Name: Nadya Okamoto
Age: 18
Dream job: Social entrepreneur
City, Country: Portland, Oregon, USA
Current job/school: University student, founder of a feminine hygiene nonprofit
Challenge: Preparation and tuition costs
Name: Michael Reyes
Age: 18
Dream job: Founder and CEO of a tech company
City, Country: Manila, Philippines
Current job/school: University student
Challenge: Financial difficulties, finding a mentor
Name: Mael Humberto Terán Cano
Age: 17
Dream job: International documentary filmmaker
City, Country: Quito, Ecuador
Current job/school: High school student; part-time worker at an internet cafe
Challenge: Financial difficulties
Name: Leny Rose Bildan-Ayroso
Age: 30
Dream job: Writer and filmmaker
Location: Antipolo City, Philippines
Current job: Team leader at a telemarketing company
Challenge: Unsure of how to start pursuing dream
Name: Caitlin Rose Smart
Age: 19
Dream job: Mental health advocate
City, Country: Auckland, New Zealand
Current job/school: University student, call center worker
Challenge: Low-paying field
Name: Cedric Dela Cruz
Age: 21
Dream Job: Government engineer
City, Country: Pasig City, Philippines
Current job/school: University student
Challenge: Lack of engineering jobs in the Philippines
Name: Teddy Mukuka
Age: 16
Dream Job: Surgeon
City, Country: Lusaka, Zambia
Current job/school: High school student
Challenge: University costs
Name: Mia Sheneth Daiz
Age: 12
Dream job: Photojournalist
City, Country: Quezon City, Philippines
Current job/school: 7th grade student
Challenge: Does not own a camera
Name: Tinka Paul
Age: 33
Dream job: International youth mentor
City, Country: Kampala, Uganda
Current job/school: Youth mentor, Innovation graduate fellow
Challenge: Lack of resources
Name: Ma. Jesusa Javier Torres
Age: 18
Dream job: Teacher
City, Country: Manila, Philippines
Current job/school: College student studying secondary education
Challenge: Financial difficulties
Name: Mariel (Mary Eleanor) Davis
Age: 29
Dream job: International development worker
City, Country: Cairo, Egypt (from New York City, USA)
Current job/school: Nonprofit communications and partnerships manager, graduate student studying management
Challenge: Keeping an open mind to unconventional career opportunities
Name: Ajay Levantino
Age: 22
Dream job: Hybrid street lights engineer
City, Country: Quezon City, Philippines
Current job/school: College student studying engineering
Challenge: Lack of financial resources and government support
Name: Swati Kamble
Age: 26
Dream job: Documentary filmmaker
City, Country: Mumbai, India
Current job/school: Film pre-production, recent graduate of master’s program
Challenge: Gender discrimination, funding for films
Name: Edwige Sabanko
Age: 25
Dream job: Being an entrepreneur; empowering African women
City, Country: Lomé, Togo
Current job/school: Recent college graduate studying English
Challenge: Financial resources, patriarchal society
Name: Meredith Sparks
Age: 26
Dream job: Interfaith Development Coordinator
City, Country: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Current job/school: Communications and advocacy assistant at a non-profit in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Challenge: Student loan debt, location
Name: Jacqueline Bautista
Age: 14
Dream job: Social worker or teacher
City, Country: Batangas, Philippines
Current job/school: Student
Challenge: Can’t afford university
Name: Brilliant Muyunda
Age: 18
Dream job: Journalist
City, Country: Lusaka, Zambia
Current job/school: Coach
Challenge: Can’t afford university
Name: Zeanna Alexis Smith
Age: 22
Dream Job: Human Resources Manager
City, Country: Cavite, Philippines
Current job/school: Human Resources Associate
Challenge: Can’t afford university
Name: Mbaziira Joshua
Age: 27
Dream job: Land surveyor
City, Country: Kampala, Uganda
Current job/school: University student studying business administration, livestock farmer
Challenge: Financial difficulties
Name: Exodia Torrente
Age: 12
Dream job: Photojournalist
City, Country: Quezon City, Philippines
Current job/school: High school student
Challenge: None
Name: Pauline Madudu
Age: 23
Dream job: Entrepreneur
City, Country: Jinja, Uganda
Current job/school: Founder and CEO of Classic Books Enterprise
Challenge: Continuing the business