I never imagined that one day I would work so closely with beneficiaries.
Before stepping into this role, I was someone who had gone through a career switch. It was not just about changing jobs, moving to a new field, or trying something different. For me, it became a journey of rediscovering myself: what I wanted to do, what values I wanted to live by, and what kind of impact I wanted to create through my work.
Helping others has always been something I enjoy. There is a certain warmth in being able to support someone, listen to them, or simply be present. But working directly with beneficiaries was something completely new to me. It was exciting, but also challenging
There is a deeper sense of responsibility in this kind of work. You do not only meet people as participants in a program. You meet them as individuals with stories, hopes, struggles, and dreams. You learn that their needs cannot simply be assumed. They need to be heard, understood, and supported with care.
As a Program Assistant at Solve Education!, my role is often seen as making sure the youth empowerment program runs well. I help ensure that activities are delivered, participants are engaged, documentation is completed, and deliverables are achieved. These are all important parts of the work.
But the longer I have been in this role, the more I have realized that being a Program Assistant is not only about executing a program.
It is also about creating a safe space for digital learning and life skills development. It is about giving support when participants feel unsure. It is about being a listener when they want to share their stories. Sometimes, it is also about being a friend.
There are many small moments that have taught me that a social impact program is not only about numbers, targets, or reports. A program is about people.
I have listened to their stories: their life journeys, challenges, hopes, and dreams. Through those stories, I have learned that everyone comes with a different background. Every participant has their own process. Some are confident from the beginning, some need more time to open up, and some quietly carry great potential but have not yet found the courage to show it.
In many moments, I did not only meet them in training sessions or formal program activities. I exercised with them, travelled with them, laughed with them, played with them, and shared many meaningful experiences. These moments may sound simple, but they made the connection feel more genuine and human.
I also found unexpected lessons through small moments outside formal program activities. As someone who loves sports and physical activities, I was happy to meet Aryandi, a MoveNow Impact Fund beneficiary who is also a running athlete. We even spent the weekend running side by side. But beyond the sport itself, Aryandi taught me something much deeper. Through his experience living with a disability, he showed me what it means to keep going, to stay strong, and to not give up on life. It made me reflect on my own journey, especially when I realized how often we complain, even when we are physically well. From him, I learned resilience, gratitude, and the courage to keep moving forward.
From these experiences, I learned that building a meaningful community impact does not always start with something big. Sometimes, it starts with a simple conversation. A warm greeting. Listening without rushing to give advice. Being consistently present.
Another meaningful part of this journey has been my relationship with teachers and communities on the ground. Without realizing it, this role has brought me into many new connections. I became closer to teachers, learned how they support their students, understood the challenges they face, and witnessed how important their role is in every inclusive education journey.
Through these relationships, I have built valuable networks and friendships. Not just in a formal or professional sense, but through trust, collaboration, and a shared purpose: to see learners grow through technology and education.
Working in Solve Education!’s programs has also taught me that impact is not always immediately visible. Sometimes, you only notice it when a participant starts to speak up. When they show confidence that was not there before. When they begin to ask questions, try something new, fail, and try again. When they realize that someone believes in their potential.
Of course, the journey is not always easy. There are tiring days. There are coordination challenges, sudden changes, communication gaps, and many things that need to be handled at the same time. But through all of that, I have learned patience, flexibility, empathy, and the importance of working with heart.
Being a Program Assistant at Solve Education! has taught me that running a program is not only about making sure everything gets done. It is about making sure the process is meaningful for the participants, the community, the team, and also for myself.
Through this journey, I learned that working with beneficiaries is not just about helping. It is a process of learning from each other. I may be there to support them, but at the same time, they have taught me so much about courage, sincerity, resilience, and hope. My career switch brought me to a place I had never imagined. But in this place, I found life lessons that I could not have learned in an ordinary work setting.
At Solve Education!, I learned that a program can become a space for growth, digital learning, life skills development, and meaningful social impact. Not only for the beneficiaries, but also for the people behind it. And perhaps that is one of the most meaningful parts of my role as a Program Assistant at Solve Education!: I am not only helping to run a program. I am also growing through it.