Change Makers of the World

StepForward is an academic experiential journey that every youth around the world have a chance at “it’s for the best to do the best”. The Step Forward program is an internship program or a skill-based volunteering (SBV) opportunity to empower youth with the needed skills for employment opportunities in exploring how their discipline looks in the real world.  It offers responsibilities, experiences and challenges of launching a career through personal contribution in advancing the community

The Program was restructured in 2016 which allows international and local students to create their novel and social projects, develop practical and personal skills, keep outcomes and results up to the standards.

The diversity and networking opportunities extends to Interns from all around the world: Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, America, Mexico, UK, Poland, France, Netherlands, Finland, China, India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Canada, Russia, Venezuela

Chinese Intern

 

Our Chinese student Yongpeng Cui coming from the University of Oxford initiated a project called Self-Administered Preliminary Vocational Test.

This self-assessment test seeks to measure the participants’ level of transferrable employability skills at the time of taking the assessment. Questions are formatted so that there is no right or wrong answer, but guide the participant in evaluating themselves with regard to the targets described. This assessment does not test participants on their knowledge of employability skills, but instead seeks to provide a framework in which the participant can elucidate their own levels of competence. We hope that after taking the test, participants will have a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses with regard to employability skills, and so have the option to target those weaknesses specifically in the future. The assessment should be self-administered by the participant. A reference sheet is provided at the end, indicating Makhzoumi Foundation’s vocational courses which are constructive to improving certain employability skills. This does not constitute a recommendation: the participant should decide whether or not to take those courses at their own discretion.

French Interns

Our international student from the French University of Toulouse initiated a project related to menstruation awareness. The foundation aims at promoting education, health, and sustainable development to empower communities and individuals. In this frame, she worked on developing a Menstruation awareness program for girls. The aim of her project is to provide the girls with awareness and discussions sessions in the aim of leaving them leave them a positive attitude toward their bodies and good knowledge on it. She also planned to distribute period kits including reusable period pads to fight period poverty.

Testimony from StepForward Intern from Russia

“My experience as an international intern with Step Forward has widened my horizons. I was able to recognize my talents, capabilities, and shortcomings as a result of my practical experience. I learned a lot about teamwork throughout my internship, which involved many duties that were necessary for the program’s progress. Every day brought new challenges and opportunities for me to make my own decisions and learn from my successes and mistakes. Overall, the Step Forward program has been an enlightening experience, and my internship placement has taught me a great deal about my future career route.”