Shakola, Team Programme

Shakola joined the Team programme when she was feeling unmotivated after being unsuccessful in securing employment when she lost her job. The Team programme helped her find purpose and improve her communication with others.

I worked in the Sheraton Hotel for 5 months, but they let me go. I didn’t feel great after that – I was angry, hurt and unmotivated. I thought I had a chance of getting another job but after a while I just gave up. I started to feel lonely and I felt there wasn’t any point in trying to get a job, every time I tried,nothing came from it. I was unmotivated and started to get a bit lazy. I felt uncertain about what I was going to do in the future.

During the work placement, I was nervous at first because I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I still felt excited. I love to cook, and I was doing a placement at a hotel restaurant. But the experience was just what I needed, the environment was great, and people were very welcoming and encouraging.

I wasn’t sure about the programme residential at first because it was not like anything I have done before, but it was amazing! I was the first girl to finish the hike and I was really proud of myself. It was the first time in a long time that I felt like I accomplished something and was a great feeling. The team leaders made us feel like we were having fun but at the same time we were still learning so much. Just listening to them taught me so much. They not only taught us but put us into real world situations where we had to used what we had learned so we could better understand how to apply the lessons to life.

The programme has helped me with a lot of things; it has changed the way in which I interact with people, made me more aware of how important it is to listen to others and share ideas – especially when presented with a challenge. It has also taught me how important it is to be self-aware and observant. It was not something I really thought about before but now because I think I know how to work better in a Team, I think more about other people. I hadn’t really been exposed to a team environment before: this is something that is going to be really important moving forward and I was able to practice at my work placement.

In the future I want to go back to Sandals and be a successful chef! I love baking cakes! My attitude in general has changed. It has given me the confidence to believe in myself and realise I can achieve anything I want to. It has also changed my perception on how to approach people. The programme has given me hope, a support network and the encouragement from the Team Leaders has really motivated me.

I have already encouraged three people to apply to the next programme. The experience has really helped me to build my confidence and engage with my local community again. Team gives you hope, makes you feel like you are no different to those people who have jobs. Thank you so much for bringing the Team programme to Barbados, it has changed my life!  I haven’t felt this confident or motivated in a very long time.

“The experience has really helped me to build my confidence and engage with my local community again. Team gives you hope, makes you feel like you are no different to those people who have jobs…Thank you so much for bringing the Team programme to Barbados, it has changed my life! I haven’t felt this confident or motivated in a very long time….”