"Now I’m a 19 year old with a future”, those are the words from Farina Khan, a single mother that successfully completed the Opportunity Knocks Young Adult Internship Program in June 2008. She is a great example of the determination and commitment OBT tries to instill in their participants.

When Farina Khan came to New York she was only three years old, and she has lived in her Bushwick neighborhood ever since. Life’s many challenges kept her from finishing high school and getting a job. When she enrolled in the YAIP program at OBT she saw a chance to get ahead in life.

“I faced many challenges when I enrolled in the program-childcare issues, not knowing what to say on an interview, and especially, taking constructive criticism in a positive way”, said Farina.

Vicki Jones Dawson, Program Director of Opportunity Knocks mentioned that, “Farina was tough, but showed that she was very smart and committed. Staff worked hard to try to get her to take a professional approach to challenges at work and minimize her personal issues so that they did not interfere with her goals. Farina has come a long way.”

Farina was placed at Dwa Fanm for her 11-week internship. Dwa Fanm is a human rights organization committed to empowering all women and girls with the freedom to define and control their own lives. Through advocacy and grass roots programs, Dwa Fanm works to end all forms of discrimination, injustice and violence against woman and girls.

Farrah Desamour, Program Director at Dwa Fanm, and Ms. Khan’s supervisor, said “In the beginning, Farina went through some adjustment issues but at the same time motivated, and most importantly she got the job done.”

After Farina completed her 11-week paid internship, Farah Tasis, Executive Director of Dwa Fanm, hired her to be part of the staff. Her current supervisor Tia Richards, confirms that Farina has come a long way and has made herself an asset to the organization.

Opportunity Knocks, a program of OBT, provides six weeks of job readiness training to young adults ages 17-24. Upon completion, successful candidates are placed in paid internships sites throughout the five boroughs. For more information, contact Vicki Dawson, program director, at (718) 387-1600.

For additional on Dwa Fanm visit their website www.dwafanm.org.