"Every problem has a solution."
At the age of 18, Samrawit left Eritrea with a very specific professional dream: to become an accountant. Ten years later, with a CFC in her pocket, two children in tow and an impressive command of four languages (Tigrigna, Arabic, English and French), she radiates quiet strength and resolute determination.
His secret? A simple but powerful life philosophy: "Every problem has a solution."
The art of turning obstacles into springboards
Samrawit arrived in Switzerland at the end of 2014, on her own. Determined to pursue her dream, she quickly embarked on a demanding educational path. She learns French, perfects her English, and adapts with remarkable speed to a totally new system.
Driven by her taste for numbers, she went on to complete a series of training courses, from a pre-apprenticeship to an AFP (Attestation Fédérale de Formation Professionnelle) obtained in 2022, to her CFC (Certificat Fédéral de Capacité) as a commercial employee specializing in accounting in 2024. " School is easy for me," she confides with a smile, before adding more seriously: "What makes things difficult is managing everything at once."
And "managing everything" is the right word: between her studies, the job search, the birth of her two children in 2018 and 2020, and the ups and downs of life... She has nevertheless found a balance despite all the responsibilities.
"Living in Switzerland, raising two children and studying at the same time is hard. But I've set myself a goal, and that goal has helped me move forward. I'm determined."
Her strength? A strict separation between personal life and professional goals: "My problems at home are neither at school nor at work.
A decisive encounter
In 2018, while looking for an internship to continue her professional project, she crossed paths with Emmanuelle Werner Gillioz, now Director of Yojoa, at AMIC (Association des médiatrices interculturelles). This meeting led to her first internship as HR assistant at AOG (a private investment group) in 2019. With great tenderness, she recounts that this experience was more than just an internship, but six months of kindness, support and help on both a personal and professional level.
"My colleagues helped me to learn French, to use a computer and all this while making me feel at ease. Everyone was on the same level, I wasn't treated differently."
She adds gently: "Those were moments I can't forget". This experience, which was invaluable on a professional level, also enabled her to forge strong bonds: some of her colleagues have now become close friends.
Tailor-made support with Yojoa
Samrawit has turned to Yojoa on several occasions over the past few years for help in finding internships, writing CVs and cover letters, preparing for interviews and so on. In the course of this collaboration, a relationship of trust has been built up over time.
Samrawit embodies the truth that Yojoa defends on a daily basis: behind every life path, no matter how atypical, lies extraordinary potential and will, just waiting to blossom.
With her unfailing determination and infectious smile, this young woman proves that all goals are attainable.
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Y: So you're ready to study for the Swiss federal diploma in finance and accounting while working full-time?
S: Yes," she laughs.
