From where I stand: “I always say that everything I have professionally achieved today in my career – and will achieve in the future – started out with this training.”

Mona Mamdouh, 35, dreamed of having a career in media. She was always reading and learning about this field and exploring her chances for a full-time job. However, she faced challenges and difficulties in securing a job in the career she loved – that is, until she got accepted into UN Women’s training on video editing and colouring.

“As soon as I graduated from [the faculty of] Fine Arts, I was eager to keep learning about the media field. I joined many workshops in photography, scriptwriting, and video editing. However, that didn’t help me find my dream job.

The chances were even slimmer after moving with my husband to Saudi Arabia and staying there for six years. I could barely land a few freelance jobs in Saudi Arabia, and a stable job was out of the question, particularly with my limited professional experience abroad.

Then I came across UN Women’s video editing and colouring training opportunity on social media, which turned out to be a turning point in my life. I returned to Egypt just to attend the training and I was very excited and hopeful. I was soaking up all the information I was learning, not wanting to miss one single point.

The training was different than any other workshop I’d previously attended. The instructors invested in every participant, and we were taught by professionals in the field. We were also offered internships that opened the horizons for us even more.

I felt as if my life was properly falling into place, finally. By the time I finished the training, I was invited to an interview for a job vacancy as a video editor in one of the major media companies in Egypt. I felt as if this training was meant to prepare and equip me with the right tools and skills for this job. So, I went to the interview, feeling confident and hopeful that I would excel.

I cannot describe how proud and delighted I feel now whenever I watch my work broadcasted on TV. It’s an indescribable feeling. I’m even more proud that I’m one of only four women in the entire media company. From my standpoint, I’m certain that women can deliver what is needed for such a demanding job.

The most important thing is that [at the age of 35] for the first time in my life, I am financially independent. I earn my own income [from a job I love] and I am in control of how to spend it. One thing I am particularly excited for is being able to buy my husband gifts with my own money. He has always been incredibly supportive, and this is my chance to show him how much I am grateful for all his support and efforts.

Now that I’m working in a large company, I feel that more opportunities will come my way. I want to climb the ladder and work in an international company. I want to delve more into the movie and film industry and become specialized in colouring and grading. As a complimentary step, I’m also interested in discovering and learning more about art direction, to one day hopefully lead entire projects and teams.

I always say that everything I have professionally achieved today in my career – and will achieve in the future – started out with this training.”

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The editing and coloring training that Mona joined falls within a wider set of trainings on creative industries delivered by Arascope for media production in cooperation with Media-Arts for Development (MADEV) inclduing photography, directing, scriptwriting, copywriting, editing and coloring.

The activity comes within the framework of the regional joint programme “Promoting Productive Employment and Decent Work for Women in Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine,” implemented by UN Women and the International Labor Organization (ILO), in partnership with the National Council for Women and the Ministry of Manpower, with the support of the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).

Through this activity, internship opportunities were offered to 100 distinguished women trainees. In addition, teams of selected 30 trainees took part in a documentary competition, which resulted in the production of three women-led documentaries that focused on societal stories portrayed through women’s eyes. The documentaries have been submitted for participation at the upcoming edition of Aswan International Women Film Festival.

Mona’s story shows the impact of the programme’s efforts in supporting women’s learning opportunities and career development as well as creating gender equality in the creative fields. This directly contributes to the achievement of  SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.