Written by: Jonah Andersson
A journey of mentorship and community
My journey with ULAP.org started through its founders, Marilag and Michelle. When I saw that they were building a community and a non-profit organization in the Philippines that aligned with my vision and mission, I signed up to volunteer.
I first joined as a mentor for the first cohort. Over time, I also became one of the trainers delivering pro bono training and group teaching on Azure Fundamentals and Cloud Computing for ULAP.org scholars.
It makes me very happy to see that many of them passed the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam. Seeing them inspired to follow and chase their dreams of building successful careers in IT is truly rewarding.
Empowerment through purpose
Women empowerment means following my WHY-mission with a genuine heart and passion to help others excel and become their best.
It is like the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, where people help one another. I apply this spirit in everything I do through technology, leadership, and the community work I am part of.
Standing strong and speaking up
One of the challenges I faced as a woman was being degraded and insulted, as if I was not capable of what I had achieved.
I handled it by shaking it off, standing up bravely, and speaking up. I chose to remain uniquely myself and stand proud of who I genuinely am.
Those who follow me and my work are my people.
A message to women finding their path
“Don’t ever let anybody or anything step you down. Don’t follow the norms just because it is a trend. Thrive to be the best version of yourself.”
Doubting yourself before you even try is degrading yourself. Know yourself, believe in yourself, and dare to be yourself out there.
