You Can: Empowering Teens to Choose the Right Career Path
You Can: Empowering Teens to Choose the Right Career Path
As the college admission season reaches its peak, many high school graduates still grapple with the crucial decision of choosing a career path. This choice significantly impacts their lives, and it’s essential to approach it with serious consideration. Fortunately, Belarusian teenagers now have the support of You Can, a social startup focused on career guidance. We had the opportunity to speak with its founder, Ekaterina Brill, about the project’s workings, its creation, and the principles behind it.
“You Can”
Danik, an orphan raised by his grandmother, never considered his future until he attended a You Can camp organized by Ekaterina Brill. Inspired by the experience, Danik improved his grades and eventually enrolled in a physics and computer science program at a university in Brest. Ekaterina, who had always been surrounded by people with disabilities due to her mother’s wheelchair use after a car accident, understood that people often need more than just financial assistance.
Less than 10% of orphans attend universities
Most orphans end up in simple jobs like tailors, cooks, or cashiers because they are unaware of modern professions and their potential. Ekaterina aimed to change this by providing them with the tools to succeed. She faced numerous challenges, including three rejections from the Ministry of Education, but her persistence paid off. Through her efforts, 206 teenagers attended career guidance camps, with 25% of them gaining university admission.
“When you have desires and ambitions, opportunities arise”
Sergei, another camper, chose to become an electrician but ended up working in Italy after realizing his proficiency in Italian. Ekaterina’s goal is to help teenagers think differently, see their potential, and build their futures based on their ambitions. Even involved parents may struggle to help their children see their professional possibilities, especially with the ever-growing number of careers.
Expanding the project
Initially, You Can focused on IT professions, but after a camper expressed interest in agronomy, Ekaterina decided to expand the project’s scope. She created an online career guidance platform where teenagers can take tests to discover suitable professions. The platform features professionals from various fields who are passionate about their work, providing detailed insights into their careers.
Ekaterina aimed to find 20 to 50 professionals but received an overwhelming response, with hundreds of people from diverse fields reaching out. The platform now offers information on 150 professions, with nearly 600 sub-professions available.
