Christopher
I like to stay busy. Working and learning help me stay focused and give me something positive to work toward. When I’m given an opportunity, I take it seriously and try to do my best.
I came to The Children’s Village after making a mistake, and since then I’ve been focused on moving forward the right way—by staying in school, working, and learning new skills.
Before coming to CV, I started learning barbering on my own with my brother. I like self-care, and getting a haircut every week can be expensive, so I decided to learn how to do it myself. At school, I joined a barber class, and my teachers told me I was doing a great job. They said that when I return home, I could work with my brother at his barber shop.
When I found out there was a barber shop on campus at CV, I asked if I could work there. I was told I needed to bring three people who wanted haircuts from me to show my skills. I brought three people, gave them haircuts, and proved that I could do the work. Right now, I’m balancing school and other work opportunities on campus, but barbering is still what I want to do long-term.
From the beginning, I wanted to work while at CV. I saw other youth with jobs and asked how I could do the same. My social worker connected me with the Working Alongside Youth (WAY) Works Program, where I learned about different opportunities, including the teaching kitchen, lifeguarding, and the greenhouse.
I now work in The Village Greenhouse with Mr. O, the Greenhouse Manager. When I first started, I only worked two days a week. After they saw how I cared for the plants and how hard I worked, they gave me more days. Now, after school, I go straight to the greenhouse every day. I help plant flowers and vegetables, move supplies around campus, and learn about different types of plants. People often stop to ask what we’re planting or to complement our work, and I really enjoy that.
I’ve also made connections through activities like the CV bowling team. I had never bowled before in my life, but the first time I played, I got a strike. I was so excited, and they offered me a spot on the team right away. I go to games whenever I can, even with my work schedule.
Barbering is still my biggest passion. Last week, I gave three haircuts, and all three people booked me again for next week. It feels good to build a client list and see people come back.
When I leave CV, I want to finish school, go to barber school, earn my license, and work close to home. The experiences I’ve had here—learning how to work, connect with others, and believe in myself—have helped me see a future I’m proud of.
The Working Alongside Youth (WAY) Works Program helps teens build real-world work skills, a strong work ethic, and career aspirations by supporting youth in seeing themselves as workers and understanding what that responsibility means. On campus, WAY Works offers workshops and paid work experiences such as The Barber Shop, where youth cut hair under the guidance of a master barber while earning credits toward a barber certificate, and The Village Greenhouse, where youth learn plant care, basic landscaping, and marketing skills under the direction of a master gardener.
