After studying at the Sentru Youth Hub in Dili, Samuel Bendito do Santos Sarmento, a 26-year-old student from Baucau, can confidently navigate Timor-Leste’s competitive job market.
The hub is a key strategy of NCBA CLUSA’s U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Women and Youth Creating our Future (WYCF) activity in Timor-Leste. By the end of the five-year project, NCBA CLUSA anticipates that 22,000 women and youth will gain market-relevant skills, secure formal jobs or establish and grow job-creating enterprises across Timor-Leste.
Despite being in his final year at the National University of East Timor and having language skills in Tetum, Portuguese and English, his job opportunities were still limited until he discovered the youth hub through a Facebook post from the Institute of Business (IOB), a local project partner. Alongside 279 other students, he enrolled in a course on Mind Your Own Business (MYOB), a cloud-based accounting and bookkeeping software based in Australia. During the course, Samuel developed critical accounting skills—including how to efficiently manage cash flow, payroll and day-to-day bookwork—that have allowed him to propel his career forward.
“The knowledge and skills I have learned at the [youth hub] are incredible,” Samuel said. “The training course is a structured, organized, and well-planned curriculum led by a very qualified professional trainer. The training module and its sessions allowed me to focus on and learn more practical skills, which I had not had the opportunity to do in my past experience.”
The practical, hands-on learning offered at the Sentru Youth Hub allowed him to progress in his career, moving from a role as marketing assistant to become a trainer at the Canxigo Training Center. Specifically, Samuel conducts training in accounting, statistical software, English and administration alongside 17 other staff members. Because of his time at the youth hub, he was able to develop the personal and professional skills that enhanced his marketability in the workplace. The course gave him the confidence and skills to seamlessly take on a new position. Now, with this new job, Samuel can financially provide for his family.
“After being trained in [the] MYOB application, I immediately enhanced my skills and knowledge on theory and turned it into practice as trainer. I am now able to prepare annual reports based on the real conditions in the field,” Samuel said.