Contributing rather than coasting

Kai Wooder

Growing up in working class Liverpool in a one parent family there was more of an emphasis on survival than achievement. Loyalty and unit were our family values but there were no expectations to do well in school or develop a career. I always felt like I had more to offer but didn't have the opportunity to express it.

Being unemployed I decided to volunteer at a youth organisation and that's where Gap came along. This was a real turning point for me. It was a message that other people thought I had more to offer too and they were willing to invest in me with encouragement and support. This really opened my mind to life outside of my living room. For the first time I felt like I was contributing rather than coasting. Since then I haven't looked back. I've been working full-time since gap and against the odds passed my BA Hons. in Informal Education. Leaving school with nothing left me feeling like I was nothing, so achieving in education instilled a huge amount of pride and achievement.

I set up a social enterprise organisation called Educ8-YP which supports other young people with their personal development. Four years on we are sustainable and growing and, most importantly, totally committed to the values of youth work and social justice.

Twelve years ago I couldn't see a way out of my street. I had no qualifications, no job and little confidence. Now I am happy, ambitious and believe that anything is possible.