Q Life Magazine Q Magazine (US) December 2015 | Page 26

| Issue 1
Moving On Up
This fall, the Embassy of the State of Qatar increased its support and
engagement with Year Up, a non-profit that empowers low-income young
adults to go from low-wage jobs to professional success. The Embassy not
only mentors Year Up participants in the Washington, D.C., area by helping
them with their CVs and preparing them for job interviews, but they also
participated in and sponsored three galas.
F
ounded in 2000, Year Up now has sites in 13
major American cities and serves more than 2,700
young adults a year. It aims to bridge what it calls “the
opportunity divide” by providing young city dwellers
with the skills, experience, and support they need to reach
their potential through careers and higher education.
The organization puts high school graduates and GED
recipients through an intensive, one-year program that
combines hands-on skill development with professional
internships. It is a highly successful, award-winning
model; 100% of participants get an internship,
and, within four months, 85% of graduates are either
in college full-time or working.
Year Up provides young adults in the Greater
Washington, D.C. area with technical, professional
and communication skills in areas including information
technology and financial operations. Students can earn
college credits for completing their coursework during
the first six months of the program, and then go on
to participate in a six-month internship at a corporate
partner such as NASA, Hilton, AOL, or Capital One.
| Ambassador Al-Kuwari speaking at Year Up reception
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