Becoming an international fashion photographer is difficult for anyone, but it’s especially difficult if you grow up in Dominica, a small Caribbean country periodically hit by hurricanes. This has not deterred Josiah Johnson, an aspiring photographer who is taking advantage of his training in digital technology to find new opportunities far beyond the borders of his home.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) often benefit from good weather, sandy beaches and lush landscapes, which attract large numbers of tourists, especially from the United States and Europe, seeking to escape the gloomy winter months. .
But growing up in these countries can be tough: opportunities are scarce and youth unemployment is high, with more than half of young people out of work in some countries, according to recent studies.
Robert Tonge, digital economy coordinator for the Government of Dominica, says life in the country has been tough in recent years.
“After COVID-19, many people lost their jobs and had no way to support their families,” he said. “The pandemic arrived after Hurricane Maria a few years earlier, during which a large part of the population lost their livelihoods, but the effects of COVID-19 lasted longer, especially from a business point of view. Many companies closed and many Dominicans decided to leave the country.
Look beyond national borders
The leaders of these Small States have recognized that new and emerging technologies, if used effectively, can be a way to help their young people look beyond national borders to find work online, earning more money without having to physically leave the house.
In Dominica, the Government has worked with the UN and other partners to develop Work Online Dominica, aimed at job seekers aged 18-40. For 12 weeks, trainers teach students business management and how to present themselves online so they can better compete in the digital marketplace.
“Many young people have a lot of skills, but they don’t know how to harness them and, more importantly, sell them outside the country,” Tonge explained. “This program helps people leverage and improve the skills they already have and offer services not only in Dominica, but throughout the Caribbean and around the world.”
Johnson, who grew up in a very poor and marginalized area of Dominica, told UN News after participating in the program that it has made a big difference to his career prospects, while allowing him to remain close to his family and friends. .
“The Work Online program was very informative and I learned a lot,” he attested. “The trainers told us how to find a job on the Internet, how to make our applications as strong as possible and compete with all the other candidates. They gave us a lot of useful advice. For example, to apply for offers very soon after they were made. published and that we were the first in line, even if that meant getting up in the middle of the night. And they told us that we should not just apply for a job and wait, but apply for several at the same time.
A path of opportunities
The program has led to countless opportunities, from virtual assistance services to translations, data entry and work in call centers in countries such as the United States, Australia and Canada. Very soon after graduating, Johnson found employment online, working in customer service for a Canadian company, but continues to pursue his dream of working as a professional photographer.
“Photography has been my passion since I was young,” says Johnson. “I have always been fascinated by the idea of capturing a moment in time. Even in high school, I always carried a phone or camera with me, taking photos of everyone around me. Since then, I have been inspired by photographer friends in Dominica and in some of the big names who work for international magazines, especially Vogue, which mix art and photography.
Over time, Johnson began to be hired as a photographer thanks to training, both in Dominica and in other Caribbean countries. He also met a lot of people during that time, creating a good network and finding many opportunities.
Promoting financial stability
Tonge expressed that graduates of the program leave with many more skills.
“They are also much more independent and positive in their thinking,” he said. “Many of the participants can earn much more now and are very happy to have participated. They have gotten a job they otherwise would not have had, and some have even been able to employ other Dominicans.”
Johnson agrees that many of the people he trained with have benefited, realizing that they do not have to leave Dominica to advance their careers.
“I hardly see some of them anymore because they are at home, working online. But now they can do many of the things that many Dominicans can’t do, like go on vacation and have money to spend, instead of struggling to pay their bills. bills.”
Work online in Dominica
Work Online Dominica is an initiative of the Government of Dominica through the Ministry of Public Works and Digital Economy, in collaboration with IsraAID, Dominica State College and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The goal of this initiative is to teach professionals between the ages of 18 and 40, over 12 weeks, how to start working online, find new sources of income and increase financial stability.
Graduates have found work in virtual assistant services, translation services, data entry and customer service.
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