Namibia’s Justina Ashiyana was appointed to serve as WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Africa from 2023 to 2024, representing the African continent together with South Africa’s Mihle Mvelakubi.
The WorldSkills Champions Trust (WSCT) is a volunteer group of past competitors who are the voice of young people in the WorldSkills movement.
They work to raise levels of engagement among WorldSkills champions and promote active involvement in WorldSkills projects, initiatives, and activities.
Champions Trust representatives speak at multiple high-level international events and take a leading role at WorldSkills competitions.
To hone her skills, Ashiyana recently attended her first training in Lyon, France, where she met the rest of the 10 WSCT representatives and participated in leadership and media training sessions and forums.
From her humble beginnings at Omatando in Ongwediva, Ashiyana’s skills journey has taken her to local and international platforms, where she has made a significant impact and emerged as a role model for African youth.
She developed a deep-rooted passion for joinery through the influence of her father, who was involved in construction work. Her early exposure to the trade nurtured her skills and ignited a desire to become an artisan.
In 2016, Ashiyana took part in the National Skills Competition in the joinery trade, where she proceeded to represent Namibia at the WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi 2017. She has since been an ambassador for skills and has participated in various platforms, representing the Namibian and African youth, including the Pan African Youth Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2019. She was one of the team leaders at the WorldSkills Africa Swakopmund competition, and ended as runner-up of the 2020 WorldSkills BeChangeMaker Africa Competition.
She is employed as a temporary assistant joinery trainer at Valombola Vocational Training Centre since 2019 and is currently enrolled for a National Diploma instructor course in TVET at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
These experiences have solidified her position as a catalyst for change, actively contributing to skills development in her community and advocating for equal access to skill-building opportunities.
As the sole female competitor among a number of male participants, Ashiyana’s journey at the WorldSkills competition was filled with challenges and triumphs, which is an inspiring testament to the power of passion, determination, and breaking of gender barriers.
The international platform allowed her to connect with talented individuals worldwide, fostering a global network of joiners and exchanging innovative ideas.
Notably, Ashiyana’s resilience and talent drew admiration from fellow women, who became instant fans, cheering her on and capturing moments with her.
Ashiyana’s commitment to empowering African youth extends beyond her achievements in her pivotal role in 2019 of launching the ‘1 Million by 2021’ African Union initiative, which aims to provide one million young Africans with opportunities in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and engagement.
Furthermore, her participation in the WorldSkills BeChangeMaker Africa Competition showcased her leadership skills and propelled her to become a temporary trainer at Valombola VTC and WorldSkills Namibia Expert in joinery.
Ashiyana’s unwavering dedication to creating equal access to skills development opportunities emphasises the importance of collaboration and the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Ashiyana has become an influential force in driving change and empowering Africa’s youth through her accomplishments and commitment.
During her two-year term as a Champions Trust Representative for Africa, she will develop her connections to local, continental, and global communities to inspire and support young people to pursue a skill. The role will broaden her network and deepen her communications
skills.
Ashiyana will play a pivotal role in the promotion of the National Skills Competition in Ongwediva 2023.
She is the second Namibian youth to represent Namibia on the WorldSkills Champions Trust.