Yassmin: shy graduate turned confident public speaker

Aspiring teacher Yassmin found public speaking challenging. Yassmin has used volunteer work to improve her public speaking skills and become a confident classroom teacher.

Yassmin facilitating a lecture.
Yassmin facilitating a lecture.

Meet Yassmin, a 24-year-old graduate from the Faculty of Arts, specialising in Arabic Language, from the city of Alexandria, Egypt. Yassmin’s journey underwent a significant transformation when she decided to challenge herself and overcome a sense of shyness, unleashing the potential she knew she possessed.

Building confidence  

Despite her career aspirations in education, Yassmin found herself facing challenges with public speaking and battling shyness. However, she was determined to overcome any challenge that might stop her from fulfilling her ambition.

Yassmin enrolled in a training course to hone her interpersonal skills. Working with a trainer, she discovered a newfound confidence and a direction towards her ambitions.

Encouraged to delve deeper into her potential, Yassmin also participated in the training course Ready for Work though which she developed skills and tools to shape her professional identity.

One of the most profound transformations she underwent was in the realm of public speaking—a skill she once struggled with but now effortlessly commands.

“I strive to instil the same principles of growth and empowerment in my students, embodying the essence of what I’ve learned.”

Yassmin
Yassmin stands up in front of a class of students.
Yassmin leads a training session.

Putting knowledge into action

Driven by her passion for teaching, Yassmin immersed herself in the intricacies of training methodologies, nurturing her abilities to impart knowledge effectively.

Ready to put this knowledge into action, Yassmin volunteered to work on the youth economic empowerment project Tamkeen – supported by Plan International.

Unleashing the power of volunteerism

Through her volunteer work Yassmin has taken to the classroom, sharing the knowledge she has learned through training with other young people in structured sessions, at the same time gaining classroom experience that she can use in her future career.

Reflecting on her initial perception of volunteer work, Yassmin confessed, “I used to engage in charitable activities, but the true potential of volunteering for development eluded me.”

Her skills as a public speaker have also paved the way for her appointment as the vice president of the organising committee, enabling her to foster connections and guide others on their journeys of self-discovery.

Yassmin stands with 4 of her students.
Yassmin with some of her students.

“The impact of volunteering transcended my expectations,” Yassmin reflects. “Now, I strive to instil the same principles of growth and empowerment in my students, embodying the essence of what I’ve learned.”

Yassmin’s story serves as a source of inspiration, illustrating the profound influence of dedication, mentorship, and the transformative power of volunteerism.

About the project

The Ready for Work training course is part of the youth economic empowerment project Tamkeen supported by Plan International in Egypt.

Reflecting on her experiences of Tamkeen and Ready for Work Yassmin shares, “I was astounded by the level of assistance provided.”

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