DonateLaunched in late December, the ads feature an image of Diego during his time in the Generation retail program, practicing new skills during the boot camp style training.
The subway network is used by 4.5 million riders per day! Developed in partnership with the government of Mexico City, the campaign is incredible opportunity to build awareness of the program.
Generation Mexico is funded by McKinsey & Company and USAID.
Reflecting on his experience with Generation, graduate Wesley said “Not only did Generation equip me with the knowledge and skills that I needed, but they also offered me the opportunity to get an interview. And now I have a job.”
Graduation ceremonies were held on December 16th in five locations across four cities: Nairobi (Buruburu and Jamuhuri), Mombasa, Nakuru, and Nanyuki. Students were celebrating the completion of programs to obtain financial services sales, retail & restaurant customer service, and consumer good sales roles.
To date, 94% of Generation Kenya’s graduates have obtained employment with more than 100 employer partners. Generation Kenya is funded by McKinsey & Company and USAID.
Bishal had struggled to get a foothold in the job market—or to find a training program that could help him do so. He had worked part-time in his aunt’s photocopy shop and enrolled in a computer course and a correspondence degree. “I was in need of a job to help my family financially,” he says. “In India, the unemployment ratio is high. Only if you have money and the right connections can you get a good job, but I didn’t have that background.” Bishal joined Generation to find a more stable career path that would enable him to earn a steady salary.
During Generation, Bishal acquired the skills to be successful as a GDA in a fast-paced hospital environment. “Generation gave me assurance and confidence. We learned things like English skills, employability and behavioral skills, how we should talk to others, and many other things which are important for life.” Soon after graduating, Bishal got a job at Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital in Delhi. He was immediately recognized for his performance, and was quickly promoted to Ward Secretary, a role in which he both assists patients and helps to prepare medical reports. In 2017 he was proud to be awarded Best Ward Secretary of the year.
Bishal now makes more than double the salary he had expected to earn as an entry-level staff member, and he uses that income to help his family improve their quality of life. He is also planning ahead for his own future. He sees many potential pathways to advance his career. As he says, “I might want to enroll in another course to become a lab or vision technician, or to provide diabetes care.”
When Bishal thinks about the early success of his new career, he credits both his own hard work and the important role of Generation: “The responsibility given to me is due to my positive behaviors and the skills I got from Generation.” The program provided the springboard for Bishal to create his own successful path in healthcare. “Generation…recognized the hidden talent in me that I couldn’t see myself,” he says. “I will be grateful to them all my life.”
Kisa joined Generation’s customer service program in San Francisco in 2016. After graduation she got a job as a porter at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
Kisa comes from Bayview-Hunter’s Point, a tough neighborhood that’s been described as “the San Francisco America pretends does not exist”. As Kisa says, “I grew up in the midst of a lot of craziness.” But her parents’ love and guidance set her on the right path. “My family has been a great support system, always encouraging me to go forward. My father taught me to be organized and got me to think about the deeper things in life.”
Kisa went out and found a job as soon as she left school—and found another one to work on her off days. She cycled through several such jobs. “I was at 30 different jobs. It was pretty tough, and my days were always long and busy.” Then a manager at Goodwill San Francisco suggested she apply to Generation, as a pathway to career growth and stability. “I said, I already got a lot on my resume, but why not look higher?”
Generation surprised Kisa. “I was expecting to sit listening to lectures—but Generation was all about practicing real situations in role plays.” Kisa learnt how to deal professionally with an upset customer and not to let their mood change her mood. She also practiced interviews and workplace interactions. “Generation helped me raise my ambitions, and gave me the confidence to walk into a workplace knowing ‘I can get this job’.”
After graduating from Generation, Kisa applied to join the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. The interviewer told her: “You look like you own the job!” A few months into her role, she delights in bringing a smile to patients’ faces, and reports that her hours, pay and benefits have improved. “The pay is really good, and I just got my first raise!” She continues to look higher: “I can see myself progressing here—I want to be a supervisor one day. And I’m saving up to buy my own condo.”
Kacedrine had always wanted to study hospitality but couldn’t afford the tuition. Generation gave her the opportunity. “Soon after graduating, I went for an interview with InterContinental—and within hours I heard that I’d got the job. I was so excited! I felt my life had changed already.”
Kacedrine has been recognized as a star customer service rep, and she credits Generation for teaching her how to truly listen to guests and take ownership in resolving complaints. In just a few months she has received multiple five-star reviews from customers, like these:
“Thank you for your great service and personal attention from one of the best customer service reps we met named Kacedrine!”
“We had Kacedrine at the front desk. She helped us with ALL and I mean ALL our requests and questions, and she did it with a smile.”
InterContinental already recognizes Kacedrine as a self-starter and high achiever. Even before she completed her 3-month probation, they gave her access to hotel funds to use at her discretion to improve guest experience. She is already looking for opportunities to grow beyond her current role.
Gabriela had dreamt of going to nursing school, and her older brother was committed to supporting her. “My brother would always tell me: ‘You are not going to work, you will keep going to school and I will pay for your studies’.” But then the worst happened: her brother, just 21 years old, was killed.
Gabriela had no choice but to seek work herself. But with no qualifications, she struggled to gain a foothold and began to lose hope. “There were always obstacles. One job after another, scams… I said no, this can’t be it.”
Gabriela joined Generation’s retail program in Mexico City in 2015 — and sees those intensive four weeks as a turning point in her life. “Generation changed my life — a lot! For me Generation is a step towards success, because apart from providing you with the opportunity to find work, it also gives you a chance to believe in yourself.”
Upon graduation, Gabriela was offered a permanent job as a cashier at Chedraui. With a fixed hourly rate and social security, she felt a huge difference compared to her pre-Generation experience of low-wage, informal employment. Together with her fellow Generation graduates, Gabriela is already making her mark at Chedraui. In the words of her manager: “They really stand out from the crowd — you notice the difference.”
Less than a year into her new job, Gabriela has been promoted to a supervisor role. “Here you have the opportunity to grow… to keep climbing and climbing.” Her hope has been restored — not just for herself, but for the next generation too. “I want to set an example for my daughter, so she can say: ‘I am not alone, my mother fought for me’.”
“I had been looking for a job long before I joined Generation, but I couldn’t find one because I wasn’t qualified enough. I got very depressed, thinking that even after studying until Higher Secondary, I wasn’t doing anything. My family couldn’t afford to support my further studies, as my father was unwell and unable to work.”
In her work as a GDA, Nazni moves patients to and from procedures and prepares their test reports and treatment folders. Even though she is not involved with direct clinical patient care, her role is fundamental to helping patients recover and feel cared for.
“Today, I have a nice job and am self-dependent. I’m happy that I work in a hospital and get to care for patients. That’s why Generation means a lot for me – it has shown me a new way of life and made me able to make my own career.”
With the responsibilities of her role, Nazni’s sense of purpose has strongly improved. Likewise, “my finances have improved a lot after getting this job. I give my entire salary to my mother. She runs our entire house with that salary.” This greater financial stability, structure and routine, and professional accomplishment has changed how people view Nazni: “I have started gaining recognition and respect from my family and relatives.”
Generation has opened new horizons for Nazni. “I have thought of pursuing a nursing course; if I’m able to do that, then hopefully within three years I will be working as a nurse.” Even though Nazni’s future path is far from certain, she is sure her Generation foundation will contribute to lifelong confidence and independence.
Brianna completed high school and enrolled in college — but dropped out after a few months. “Looking back, I didn’t know where I was going with my life. I was unsure about my personal goals and the path I wanted to take.” Married with three young children, she worked a series of retail and food service jobs that offered no career growth and made it hard to provide for her family.
A turning point came when Brianna checked her great-grandmother into a nursing home shortly before her passing. “I decided I wanted to be in the healthcare field to help people. I immediately jumped on the Internet to research nursing programs, but found that their prices were way too expensive.”
“Then one day, I found out about the Generation program. I applied and was accepted — and it has positively changed my life forever. Not only did the Generation faculty help me develop my craft as a healthcare professional, but they also worked with me to help me become the stronger, hard-working person I am today.”
Soon after graduation, Brianna was offered a full-time job as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Cadia Rehabilitation. “This is an excellent environment. Honestly, I enjoy my job so much that I go to work every day with a smile on my face. Right now I work for a great facility with colleagues that are more like my family.”
Generation made such an impact on Brianna that her husband joined the program too — in the very next cohort. “This program has helped us create a future for our family.” The couple’s improved earning power has now put a long-held dream within reach: “Me and my husband are taking our children on a vacation, which is something that we would have never been able to do. And it’s only because of Generation!”
Like many fresh university graduates in Spain, Guillermo experienced the country’s high rate of youth unemployment first-hand. “My job was to look for a job. I assumed someone was hiring people somehow, but I had no idea how to get a job. I sent my resume to many employers, but got nowhere. It wasn’t easy.”
When Guillermo joined Generation’s digital marketing program, not only did the program give him cutting-edge knowledge of digital marketing strategies and analytical and planning tools — it also gave him the personal skills he needed to succeed in the working world. “Generation gave me what I was missing, the foundation I needed — the right way to work, how to communicate.”
Within one week of graduation from Generation, Guillermo was working as a Digital Consultant — and he made an immediate impression. In the words of his manager: “From the first day we noticed that Guillermo had a lot of perseverance, that he is consistent, and that he knew how to work in a team. You really notice the difference in the soft skills of Generation graduates.”
Guillermo feels that Generation has given him a strong start in a lifelong journey of professional and personal growth. “I never want to stand still, I never want to stay in my comfort zone. As new technologies emerge, I want to learn about them and master them. I always want to say to myself: ‘Yes I can!’.”