How access to opportunity helped Sarai land her first job

Sarai Sofia, 16, found her first job in a context where every possibility once seemed out of reach.

At just 16 years old, Sarai Sofia already follows a demanding routine. She wakes up early, prepares her own lunch, arrives at work before 8 a.m., and spends the morning managing files, helping clients, and gaining new experience. After work, it's time for school. Amid it all, she is building something that, only a few years ago, seemed out of reach: a future with opportunities and choices of her own.

Akawayo Indigenous and a Venezuelan immigrant, Sarai moved to Brazil when she was 11 years old. “I liked the school, the language, the people... the way they treat us,” she said. The beginning, however, was not easy. The words made little sense, tests were challenging, and at times she felt like giving up. Still, she persevered, gradually learning Portuguese at school and through everyday conversations. Along the way, she discovered opportunities that would help shape her future.

To support young people like Sarai in gaining the skills they need for the future of work, Generation Unlimited at UNICEF created the Passport to Earning (P2E) programme. Together with Core Partners Accenture, Dubai Cares, Global Affairs Canada and Microsoft, P2E equips young people with future-ready skills, including digital and AI capabilities, financial literacy, digital productivity and employability skills, supporting their transition from learning to employment. In Brazil, P2E is delivered through the 1 Milhão de Oportunidades (1MiO) initiative, which connects young people with learning, vocational training, apprenticeships and employment opportunities.

In the Brazilian state of Roraima, 1MiO was adapted for public schools and humanitarian shelters through Operation Welcome. Known locally as the Life Plan, it was redesigned by the Súper Panas team to meet the realities faced by adolescents in the region. Digital links were replaced with printed workbooks due to limited access to mobile phones and computers, and courses such as entrepreneurship, originally offered online, were delivered in person so that young people could participate. It was in this environment that Sarai began to think about her future in a concrete way. Through the Life Plan, she discovered the opportunities available in Brazil, learned about different career paths, and gained practical knowledge on how to prepare for a job interview.

The Pirilampos Institute, UNICEF’s implementing partner for the Life Plan programme, also dedicated part of the process to teaching participants how to use computers and create their own CVs. Beyond acquiring technical skills, Sarai began to see herself differently, as someone with potential, and started planning her future. She took courses in computer skills, communication, and entrepreneurship; she sought out additional training on her own and applied for opportunities. With the support of a Súper Panas facilitator who delivered the Life Plan, she registered with Brazil’s National Employment System (SINE) and was called for her very first job interview.

"When I was called for the interview, I ran to tell Fernando (the assistant at Súper Panas), and he helped me prepare. He walked me through possible questions, how to answer them, and how to present myself. I used everything he taught me. Many of the questions we practised actually came up during the interview," she said, smiling.

Approval came shortly after. Sarai got her first job as a Young Apprentice at Roraima Energia, an energy company in Boa Vista. Before starting in the role, she spent six months in training at the National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship (SENAI). Now, just over a month into the job, she has already settled into her first workplace routine.

"I strongly believe in the importance of a well-structured process – one that ensures access for all, while remaining mindful of situations of vulnerability. Merit and behaviour matter, yes, but with sensitivity," says Alessandra Lemos, Human Resources Manager at Roraima Energia. "I always encourage young people to make the most of this opportunity, because this is also a space for learning. Many come from a structured educational background, such as SENAI, but they encounter a different dynamic in day-to-day life in the company, and that is part of the process. We also learn a great deal along the way."

For Sarai, the job brought income, but also autonomy. With her first paycheck, she bought clothes, saved money, and started planning her future. She wants to travel, continue her studies, and is considering studying Law or Psychology.

A Passport to the Future

Around the world, millions of young people still face challenges in accessing real opportunities for education and employment. They often lack access to relevant skills, clear learning pathways, and ways to demonstrate what they can do. To address this challenge, the One Million Opportunities (1MiO) initiative, led by UNICEF, carries out actions aimed at supporting the development of skills that enable a positive transition from school to the world of work.

Part of these activities involves the provision of training courses through the digital platform Passport to Earning, supported globally by Core Partners Accenture, Dubai Cares, Global Affairs Canada, and Microsoft Elevate. In Brazil, this partnership aims to contribute to the education and training of adolescents and young people, particularly in priority areas of UNICEF’s work in the country, such as the Amazon region, the semi-arid region, and large urban centres. Globally, nearly six million young people have been certified through P2E, including two million trained specifically in digital and AI skills.

In the country, nearly 9 million young people are neither in education nor employment, and inequalities affect girls, Indigenous youth, Black youth, and other historically excluded groups more strongly. Sarai knows this. And that is why, when speaking to other girls like her, she shares a piece of advice. “Don’t let low self-esteem hold you back. There will always be negative people, but life is an individual journey.”

*UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.