From Dreaming to Doing: Patience Barnabas’ Catering Journey

Patience’s love for catering began at home. As a child, she spent countless hours watching her aunt prepare meals for events measuring ingredients, decorating cakes, and cooking for large gatherings. For Patience, the kitchen became a space of inspiration. She longed to follow in her aunt’s footsteps, but without resources or access to formal training, her dream remained just a dream.

Her turning point came with the integral mobile training, implemented by Young Africa with support from the Mastercard Foundation. With 75% of sessions dedicated to practice, trainees learn directly from master craftspeople. The program is designed to equip youth with practical, market-ready skills, the project provides young people with more than just technical training. It offers mentorship, entrepreneurship education, and life skills that prepare participants for dignified work.

Patience’s training in catering was not limited to cooking techniques. She learned vital entrepreneurial skills such as financial literacy, record-keeping, and customer relations. With the guidance of mentors, she also discovered how to brand her services, leverage social media for visibility, and manage small-scale business operations.

“Now I can cook with confidence and even earn from it. This is just the beginning of my journey.”

– Patience Barnabas

Equally important were the life skills integrated into the program—discipline, teamwork, and resilience. For young women like Patience, these skills are critical in navigating both personal and professional challenges while positioning themselves as leaders in their communities.

Today, Patience is putting her skills into action. She confidently caters for small events, earning income and recognition within her community. Each meal she prepares is more than food, it is a step toward independence and the foundation of her future business.

Looking ahead, Patience envisions running her own catering enterprise, one that will not only provide for her family but also create opportunities for other young women to learn and grow. Her story is a clear reflection of the YA’s goal: ensuring that youth transition into dignified work through skills, values, and opportunity.

Patience’s journey shows what is possible when dreams are matched with opportunity. From admiring her aunt’s catering to becoming a skilled caterer herself, she has moved from dreaming to doing. Her success is proof that with the right support, young people can turn passion into livelihoods and shape brighter futures for themselves and their communities.