Shirleen Handula, 24-Vessel Repair and Maintenance

“I have had an interest in vessels, and engines”, 24 year old Shirleen says as she tells us her story of revolution and growth. From Tana River County, Shirleen joined the Go Blue project when she was introduced by a friend; she was registered at Lamu Vocational Training Center to take the Vessel Repair and Maintenance course.

Before joining the course, Shirleen was managing the family business back home; the business was seasonal and she was not making any income. She wanted to go back to school live an independent life and earn a living, which Go Blue made possible. She is now employed and has an income to sustain her, “I am doing something that I love, I am proud of myself and I encourage other girls in my community to join in the project. This field is not only for men,” she adds.

Shirleen maintains that Go Blue gave her a new chapter in her life and a career that she could build on and eventually have a successful future. She says that the life skills part of the training was her favorite, she is confident and able to attend to customers better because of the life skills course. She is thankful to CAP YEI for the Go Blue initiative for making her a resourceful individual in society, and urges that more projects like this would help other young people in the community.