What we’ve been up to since the Ladies Who L-EARN 2012/13 cohort graduated

It continues to be a busy time for You Make It. Since the 2012/13 programme completed, we’ve been working hard to raise investment to make sure we can get Ladies Who L-EARN 2013/14 up and running in the East End again from this autumn. We’re also trying to work out how to make sure it’s not only women from our local patch who benefit from the programme. We’ll keep you updated with progress on all of this over the coming months. In the meantime, you can copy the following link into your browser to watch a short film  made about the last programme:

https://vimeo.com/63057893

We’ve also got a full written evaluation report of Ladies Who L-EARN 2012/13, which was produced on a pro bono basis by BOP Consulting. If you’re interested in having a read, then please email the You Make It Director:

asma@you-make-it.org

Ladies Who L-EARN 2012/13 Graduation party @ Rich Mix London was on Monday 22 February!

Our graduates made some incredible acceptance speeches and really did shine to a large audience (there weren’t enough seats to go around!) of You Make It supporters that included representatives from London’s leading arts, cultural and creative organisations and City firms who have engaged with our Ladies Who L-EARN initiative through mentoring, delivering workshops and hosting work placements, as well as trusts and foundations who have made a financial investment into the work.

One graduate of the programme, Sada Cole, who has now secured full time paid employment while hatching her own business idea, thanked the audience saying “You may not realise that by taking time out of your lives’ for us, you’re breathing life back into us.” A staff member from State Street Bank, one of our cash and in-kind investors, also took to the stage to endorse the programme. Their Head of Talent Acquisition said “The organisation behind this work is so strong, it’s so well run, and it’s really easy to give time for something like this.”

Another colleague from the Royal Opera House highlighted their very positive experience of hosting a work placement, saying that by the time their candidate was ready to take it up, she had gone through months of workshops which had made her “keen and ready to make the most of it…so much so that we’ve agreed to bring her back for another stint with us.”

On awarding certificates YMI Founding Director, Asma Shah, said “Ladies, I’ve been working with you now for some months and I remember so clearly our first meeting at what in most cases were your job centres. I can honestly say that I don’t worry for any of you. You’re hard working, resilient, confident and newly networked women and yes, you’ll get your knock backs because life’s not fair or easy and it’s tough out there, but I know you’re now equipped to overcome any barriers to ensure you lead the lives’ you want and deserve to lead.”

Another highlight of the evening was Ellen O’Hara, Head of Business Development at Cockpit Arts and YMI board member, announcing the winners of our business pitch prize. O’Hara explained that the panel, herself and Matthew Stafford of Student Upstarts, had found awarding just one prize extremely difficult because of the passionate and well thought through pitches made by our emerging entrepreneurs. As such 3 prizes were awarded comprising a mix of financial investment and 1-1 business coaching to Shamarla Rose McNairn for her affordable urban clothing label – Space Hopper Graphics, Mary Zreik for her high-end textiles lines, and business partners Samantha Mokonz & Tusharna Francis for their organic hair products to bring back the afro!

Ladies Who L-EARN 2012/13 is almost complete…..

We are now just weeks away from coming to the end of what has been another successful Ladies Who L-EARN programme  with the 3 month long weekly workshop programme completed in mid December, and young women now wrapping up work placements. On 12 February those LWL who have been inspired to think about setting up their own ventures will be invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of business experts for a small cash prize of £500 towards their start up costs and the PRICELESS opportunity to receive 1-1 business coaching to help them go that bit further towards launching their own thing! The winner will be announced at our graduation party on Monday 18 February @ Rich Mix.

Ladies Who L-EARN Show Off Their Wares!

Shamarla Rose-McNairn, 22 from Hackney, sold her Spacehopper Graphics urbanwear alongside other Ladies Who L-EARN participants, selling handmade cards by Lina Begum, 22 from Tower Hamlets, at Old Spitalfields Market. The Trading Places market stall project was a great success! Check out the gallery for pictures from the day.

Ladies Who L-EARN 2012-13 fellows announced

Bright young sparks from Tower Hamlets and Hackney have been awarded a place on this year’s Ladies Who L-EARN programme, which is connecting them to new places, people, experiences and ideas to ensure they realise their voice, value and earning potential in one of the most exciting cities in the world.

You Make It is proud to announce the following Ladies Who L-EARN……..

 

Debbie Oni, 21, Hackney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to have my own business in hair care and fashion, and to be financially stable. I am an analytical thinker, and having once worked as a support worker, I am good at adapting to different situations. I want to have a house in England and my mother country, Nigeria.

 

Farhana Khatun, 19, Tower Hamlets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I live in Tower Hamlets and I’m interested in gaining experience in the hair and beauty industry, maybe an apprenticeship, as longer term this is the industry I want to work or even have a business in.

 

Inga Arutyunova, 21, Hackney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am good at dancing. When I was a little girl I always used to watch music videos and pick up on the movements quickly.  I was always told how great I was and that I should do something with it! While dancing is my main talent, I’m also interested in working in a professional salon as I am good at beauty!

 

Juliet-Lisa Fellerman, 20, Harrow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like being creative and am good at drawing, designing, editing, writing and music. I would like to achieve a certain level of success and recognition in the creative field so I can be stable, secure and happy in my life.

 

Khaleda Begum, 22, Tower Hamlets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am very achievement oriented and wish to pursue a career in recruitment consultancy or sales. At the same time, I want to launch my own baby clothing company, eventually using some proceeds to support child victims of war in other countries to have a better life.

 

Lina Begum, 22, Tower Hamlets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a passion for making jewellery, embroidery, henna patterns, handmade cards, and almost anything wedding related. I am very well organised. I would like to have my own boutique and imagine glass boxes filled with my work, sketchbooks and costumes. I also see myself being an event producer for a mendhi occasion.

 

Lizzy Skelly, 21, Hackney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My passion is working with young children aged 1-5 years. I would also like to work with older children to see what the different approaches are. I have good communication skills, believe in fairness and equality and this helps me resolve issues and disagreements with adults and children!

 

Maciah Dawson, 21, Hackney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a passion to work with women and babies (I am a mum!) and want to achieve my goal to be a midwife.  I am good at communicating with and listening to people. I want to go back to college and resit my English, maths and science to start me on my path to success. In the future I plan to be financially stable.

 

Mary Zreik, 24, Wandsworth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I graduated a year ago with a degree in textiles and have since worked in a few part time retail assistant roles. My true passion and ambition is to design and make a living from my own range of fashion items. I actually aim to have launched my own business before the end of 2013!

 

Nazia Begum, 19, Tower Hamlets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to pursue a career working with children and adults. I am a great team player and think I could work in any given environment. I am also interested in exploring how I’d start up my own creative business, as do have creative skills.

 

Rufshana Begum, 22, Tower Hamlets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like arts and crafts and have always enjoyed making things. I enjoy working with children as I find it fun and exciting. I would like to secure full-time employment in this field while developing my business ideas in jewellery design.

 

Sada Cole, 23, Hackney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to set up a business working with child victims of bullying, domestic violence, and parental divorce who as a result have developed problems such as depression. I want to create a safe place where they can be themselves through play and learn to build trust, self-esteem and confidence in a non-judgemental environment.

 

Samantha Mokonz, 21, St Albans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to establish a business dedicated to the maintenance and production of healthier natural hair. From this base I would like to explore other trade and product options. I’m a conscientious and hardworking individual, aware of my environment and how to make the most of the resources around me.

 

Shamarla Rose-McNairn,22, Hackney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve always been interested in design, fashion and music but have felt too shy to be a musical performer. I studied art and always loved drawing. I’m left-handed so my family said that I was going to be talented in that way. I like dressing differetly, in something urban and affordable but that looks high end. I would love to start my own business.

 

Shazia Begum Ali, 24, Tower Hamlets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a creative mind and like to socialise with people from all walks of life. I have good people skills and often advise people with their problems. I want to achieve goals of being successful in my career path, to travel the world and to settle down with a family of my own.

 

Shiparul Nessa, 19, Tower Hamlets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is very important to me to make the right career choice, finding something I feel passionately about and making that my way of earning my living. I have always seen myself in an academic field, but different ideas are now opening to me. I am good at science but also languages.

 

Tahera Begum, 22, Tower Hamlets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have BA honours in Business Studies and work part time in McDonalds. But I would like to secure a job related to my degree and in the banking sector. I get along with different kinds of people from different ages and backgrounds.

 

Tusharna Francis, 21, Wandsworth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like information and try to obtain any I can whenever I can. It’s the power to see and share in a new experience that attracts me. I’m good at bringing people and ideas together and making new initiatives materialise. I’m the ‘fuel in the tank’.

 

Whahida Khanom, 20, Tower Hamlets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to find paid work but on the way to this, I really want to develop my confidence and meet new people, and perhaps go to college – I’ve always been interested in science!