{"id":3130,"date":"2025-08-22T15:59:05","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T19:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yci.org\/herstart\/?post_type=blog&p=3130"},"modified":"2025-12-23T18:12:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T23:12:57","slug":"fellowship-alumni-spotlight-how-tayba-changed-her-career-path","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/yci.org\/herstart\/story\/fellowship-alumni-spotlight-how-tayba-changed-her-career-path\/","title":{"rendered":"Fellowship Alumni Spotlight: How Tayba Grew in Uganda"},"content":{"rendered":"
Author: Eesha Nasir Chaudhry, previous YCI staff member\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n

When Tayba applied to join the very first cohort of the <\/span>HerStart International Fellowship<\/span><\/a> in 2022, she wasn\u2019t exactly sure what to expect. She had studied and interned in international development, but social entrepreneurship? That was uncharted territory.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fast forward 3 years and at the time of writing she\u2019s now teaching English to newcomer adults in Toronto, has just wrapped up her Master\u2019s in Education and is designing courses that merge her passions for development and education. \ud83d\ude4c<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And it all started with 6 unforgettable months in Mpigi, Uganda.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"8

Tayba (fourth from the left) with other HerStart Fellow alumni and YCI staff at a networking event in Toronto.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

<\/h3>\n

From U of T to Uganda<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Before the HerStart Fellowship, Tayba\u2019s path had already taken her across continents. She completed her undergraduate degree in International Development and Health at the University of Toronto (U of T), had an internship in Tanzania and began a master\u2019s program –\u00a0before COVID-19 brought it all to a screeching halt.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI actually did a virtual internship with YCI first during the COVID-19 pandemic before I did the HerStart Fellowship,\u201d she shared. \u201cAfter I finished my internship, I saw a call [for fellowship applications] and I thought because travel had finally lifted, I can go abroad, get experience and make an impact there.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Her previous experience had focused mainly on global health, so the idea of using social entrepreneurship as a tool for development intrigued her. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it would be cool to learn something new, while still applying my knowledge and skills to the role I was placed in,\u201d she said.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/h3>\n

Life as a HerStart Fellow<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Tayba applied to be a Volunteer Engagement Fellow (a previous role that has evolved into the Program & Partnerships position). On the ground, she quickly realized her role would be bigger and more diverse than expected.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere wasn\u2019t a Communications Fellow in Uganda at the time, so I took that role on, too,\u201d she said. \u201cI was running monthly workshops with fellows across countries, helping with entrepreneur trainings and even creating new sessions like one on women\u2019s rights and responsibilities.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She also reimagined how future fellows could settle in and hit the ground running. \u201cI helped develop a scavenger hunt map for fellows to get to know Uganda and updated the orientation plan for incoming fellows,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tayba soon discovered that living in Mpigi was also going to be a learning curve. \u201cKampala is a city like Toronto, just smaller and greener. Mpigi is very remote. You\u2019re taking boda bodas instead of Ubers and shopping in small local markets,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although adjusting to such a different living context could be challenging some days, silver linings still shone through as she started to immerse herself in the strong sense of community.<\/strong> \u201cA lot of people in Mpigi spoke English, and even the ones that didn\u2019t speak English, you were able to interact with, pointing out what you want and what you don\u2019t want\u2026 They have tourists and volunteers that come from different countries, so people are used to interacting with foreigners.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From monthly check-ins with fellows to bridging communication between the in-country team and YCI Canada, Tayba\u2019s work left a mark that extended beyond her own fellowship.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"6

Tayba (third from the left) and other HerStart Fellows outside YCI’s partner office in Mpigi.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

<\/h3>\n

Overcoming Hurdles<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

She admits the first month was the hardest.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were the first fellows in the program, so there were challenges we didn\u2019t know would happen, like power outages that sometimes lasted days and limited office supplies,\u201d she said. \u201cEven with my previous experience in East Africa, adjusting took time.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There were moments she questioned whether she wanted to stay the full term. \u201cIn the beginning, I thought, \u2018No way am I staying longer than the placement.\u2019 But by the end, I was asking if I could extend my contract,\u201d she laughed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her advice for adapting and thriving in new contexts?\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPatience, a good support system, constant communication and just being resilient. Things get better with time; it\u2019s the natural flow of things, but you learn how to navigate local transport, where to shop and how to get around.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/h3>\n

The Power of Community <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

When she looks back now, it\u2019s not just the projects she remembers, it\u2019s the people.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe fellows I met have become really good friends of mine. Some of them are even still integrated in my friend circle,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd then there\u2019s the in-country team \u2014 Stella, Plaxeda, Betty and Sharon \u2014 people who made my experience a lot better.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her role in onboarding new fellows also deepened those bonds. \u201cOne group came in just a few weeks before I left, and I still keep in touch with them as well.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Discovering a New Career Path<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The fellowship didn\u2019t just build skills, it changed Tayba\u2019s career trajectory.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSupporting the [entrepreneur and fellow] trainings made me realize I love teaching adults,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I came back, someone suggested I get my CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Cambridge University. I\u2019ve now been teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) to adults for over two years, including immigrants and refugees.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019s found creative ways to bridge her education background with what she\u2019s learned from HerStart.<\/strong> \u201cI developed a workshop on social entrepreneurship for ESL learners, and for my Master\u2019s degree, I designed a 5-week course on how to integrate social entrepreneurship into a Canadian context for adult learners.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

HerStart also gave her a self-esteem boost she still carries.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt gave me so much confidence,\u201d she said. \u201cNow I know I can travel anywhere, start conversations with anyone and walk into a room and present without hesitation. I feel more confident in myself to be able to do anything.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Tayba

Tayba sitting with women social entrepreneurs after a training in the Mpigi office.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

<\/h3>\n

Advice to Future Fellows<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

For those wondering if HerStart is for them, Tayba\u2019s advice is simple:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYou should do it. Everyone should do it. It\u2019s honestly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I feel like at some point in your life, you should travel by yourself and live by yourself. It helps you grow as a person and can help you grow in your career.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She also encourages challenging personal beliefs and preconceived notions. \u201cDon\u2019t expect it to be like Canada; things move slower, and that\u2019s okay. <\/span>Go in with an open mind and no expectations<\/span><\/b>. You might end up making some really good friends along the way.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And for anyone hoping to make an impact?<\/i>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cStart local before you go global. Volunteer in your own community first, that\u2019s how I started actually, then explore internships or fellowships abroad. And make sure you\u2019re not just doing voluntourism. Make sure your work is making a real, sustainable impact.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/h3>\n

Looking Back<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

When asked to sum up her experience, Tayba didn\u2019t hesitate:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmazing. It changed the trajectory of my career.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, she stays connected to YCI through workshops and events, seeing it as a bridge between her current work in education and the international development sector. And while her career has taken her from boda boda rides in rural Uganda to classrooms in downtown Toronto, the lessons and friendships she gained continue to shape her journey.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If Tayba’s story resonates with you, apply for a life-changing international experience yourself! Click here to learn more about the HerStart Fellowship opportunity.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt gave me so much confidence. Now I know I can travel anywhere, start conversations with anyone and walk into a room and present without hesitation. I feel more confident in myself to be able to do anything.\u201d – Tayba, HerStart International Fellow<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3133,"template":"","blog-type":[154],"country":[15],"class_list":["post-3130","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFellowship Alumni Spotlight: How Tayba Grew in Uganda - HerStart<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/yci.org\/herstart\/story\/fellowship-alumni-spotlight-how-tayba-changed-her-career-path\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fellowship Alumni Spotlight: How Tayba Grew in Uganda - HerStart\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cIt gave me so much confidence. 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