KINGSTON, Jamaica — At 25, Amanda Hendricks is building a life that once seemed difficult to imagine. Today, she has a steady job, a supportive team around her and a renewed determination to pursue her education and career goals.

But beyond the pay cheque, employment has given her something equally valuable: confidence.

Before becoming involved with Project STAR, the Parade Gardens resident described herself as withdrawn and uncomfortable around people. She often isolated herself and found it difficult to open up or socialise. Taking the first step towards employment was therefore about much more than finding a job; it meant confronting fears and pushing herself beyond the boundaries she had created around her life.

Project STAR, which works to support social and economic transformation in underserved communities, became an important part of that journey.

Through the programme’s job-placement support, Hendricks was encouraged to apply for opportunities and attend interviews. Her Project STAR contact continued to encourage her even when she was reluctant to take the next step.

“I told him I wasn’t going anywhere, but he said I should go and then get back to him and tell him how it went,” a Project STAR press release quoted Hendricks as saying.

The encouragement eventually led her to an interview for a security position with the Shipping Association of Jamaica. The experience did not go as she had expected. She left the interview before it was completed and immediately contacted her Project STAR contact to explain what had happened.

Yet, rather than allowing the experience to discourage her, the Project STAR team continued to support her. About a week later, Hendricks received the news that she had been hired. That opportunity marked the beginning of a significant period of growth.

Hendricks initially found the transition into the workplace challenging. She had to adjust to interacting with new people, navigating a new environment and managing the anxiety that came with stepping outside her comfort zone. During her first week, she reached out to members of the Project STAR team for reassurance and guidance.

“They never gave up on me. They never made me feel less than. They never made me feel like a burden,” she said, noting that she has been in the job for more than a year.

Her journey is one that Project STAR representatives say demonstrates the importance of sustained support and the value of employment as a pathway to transformation.

That support does not end once a candidate is hired. Through its post-employment support approach, Project STAR conducts ongoing check-ins throughout the first year of employment and maintains an open line of communication with both employers and candidates to ensure a smooth transition and adequate support for new employees. Employer feedback is sought within the first month of employment, and psychosocial support is made available where needed. Continued dialogue with candidates also creates opportunities to identify additional Project STAR programmes that can provide support at the community and family level.

The support helped Hendricks gradually settle into her new role. Today, she speaks positively about her workplace, describing her supervisor and colleagues as supportive and her team as welcoming. She has also taken on additional responsibilities, further demonstrating her growing confidence and willingness to challenge herself.

Her employment has also brought greater stability to her life and family. A regular income has given Hendricks the opportunity to contribute, plan for her future and provide for her two children. For her, the impact of employment extends beyond earning a salary; it has helped her develop socially, emotionally and economically.

“I’m more comfortable with work. I have a great team. My supervisor is so great, and I really have no problem,” she said.

The transformation has been particularly meaningful because Hendricks recognises how much she has changed. Someone who once struggled to socialise is now navigating the workplace, building relationships and taking steps towards her long-term ambitions.

Hendricks recently enrolled in a maritime-related course as part of her plan to continue her education. She is also working towards completing outstanding subjects so that she can pursue further studies and prepare herself for the career field she wants to enter.

“My goal right now is to expand myself,” she said. “I’m ready to push myself towards it.”

“We are extremely proud of Amanda and the progress she has made. What is particularly commendable is that she has not only secured employment but has maintained her job and continued to grow in the role. That speaks to her determination and willingness to push beyond the challenges she faced. For us, seeing Amanda become more confident, adapt to the workplace and begin planning for her education and future is exactly the kind of transformation we support through Project STAR,” said Sharise Staines-Appleby, head of programmes at Project STAR.

For Hendricks, Project STAR has been more than a pathway to employment. It has been a source of encouragement and a bridge to a new chapter in her life, one in which she is becoming more confident, independent and ambitious.

Her advice to others considering the programme is simple: take the first step with an open mind.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for any type of help. And don’t be afraid to be yourself,” she said. “There’s no point in holding back yourself when there’s an opportunity there to help you grow within yourself and within your life.”