25 year old Chitsi graduated from MAMA Youth in December 2013. This is the story of how she started and progressed in her desired career.

"After graduating from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), I knew I wanted to work in the TV industry but decided to live in Korea for 2 years teaching English and travelling in Asia. When I returned, I planned on working in the Third Sector for a charity while I saved enough money to take on unpaid jobs in the TV industry. Three months into this, I was fed up, felt like I was wasting my time and wanted to be more creative at work.

I came across Mama Youth Project on Twitter, a day after applications had closed - taking a gamble I applied anyway. I was sure the programme was perfect as at, 25 years old and being a late starter in TV, I felt I needed to do something drastic to prove that I really wanted to work in the industry. With Mariana and Lendon’s guidance I applied for the role of Researcher instead of the camera person role, which I had initially applied for. Applying for Mama Youth Project and becoming a Trainee Researcher turned out to be stellar decisions. The experience endowed me with a sense of personal confidence, when it came to my ideas, working in large teams and being able to deliver creatively. I produced three challenging items for What’s Up TV that I was and still am very proud of. I learned that sometimes I can be overly ambitious and it’s good to temper my ideas.

When I started Mama Youth Project I had two companies in mind I wanted to work at: Fremantle and Endemol. At the end I had interviews with both. My work experience at Fremantle was amazing. Despite my disappointment at not getting a placement at Endemol, I kept in contact with the talent manager at Endemol, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. I ended up being on the PACT Indie Diversity Scheme at Endemol because the Talent Manager thought I’d demonstrated my hunger for working in TV and managed to get me a late interview with Executives in the company.  At the end of my 6 months as an intern I was a Junior Researcher at Endemol and overall stayed there for 18 months. I have also been back to Fremantle and have worked at lots of amazing companies that I wanted to work at and on amazing shows.

 I am now at Betty as a Researcher on The Undateables, the show is hard work and I love the company. I’m hoping to make it to Assistant Producer soon and I’m sure I’ve found the industry that’s meant for me; despite some frustrations I love the challenges of working in television and that every day is different - I’m a TV lifer."

Being on Mama Youth project made me realise that, I needed to be proactive in eating well, sleeping well, and managing stress, all while working long hours and not seeing loved ones all that often. The project is as real as it gets, it’s as tough as working on any other demanding productions in the Television Industry.  Getting to the end of Mama Youth Project shows you that you can do it, that you are determined and passionate about working in the industry. It’s like a crucible- you come out refined.

If you get the chance to be on Mama Youth Project, be patient with yourself and others, work hard but look after yourself. If you decide that working in TV isn’t for you, it’s okay! Find your other passion.  My attitude in life is to give everything my all, as the adage goes “Go hard or go home”! It paid off with Mama Youth Project, and it seems to be paying off in my career too.

Once you step into the industry here are some of my tips:

• Working in television can be very demanding on the self, look after yourself emotionally and physically, if you need to go to therapy go for it- if you don’t look after yourself, you can’t perform well and you can’t be the best version of you.
• Talent Managers are your best friends, they keep me employed and are there to listen to any work challenges you may have - seek them out. 
• Speak to everyone, especially in the kitchen! I’ve gotten some jobs this way.
• Go for drinks when people go out, if you don’t drink just have a sparkling water, your presence is what matters.
• Don’t make yourself small, express yourself, you are where you are because you worked hard and deserve it just like everyone else.
• If someone is unpleasant to you, it’s not personal, they are probably struggling with something, whether it’s stress or that someone forgot to give them a double shot espresso that morning - it’s not about you!
• Remember to be yourself; being yourself, including random quirks and interests is what makes you memorable, learn and be adaptable but don’t change the essence of you.
• Bake cakes and yummy goodies, if you’re no domestic god(dess) like I am, buy them or do something else that lightens the mood and makes the team smile.''
  
  - June 2016