Congratulations to our recent cohort of Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification graduates! WellShare is committed to elevating the community health workforce through providing scholarships, training, and employment opportunities to rising community health leaders.

In honor of his commitment to public health, we would like to share the “why” of recent graduate and new staff member, Yakub.

“I have always been passionate about serving and improving the health and well-being of my community. My experiences with Community Health Workers (CHWs) overseas in refugee camps in Ethiopia inspired me to pursue CHW certification. I saw many people struggling to access healthcare services and I decided to be a part of the solution and ensure that everyone has access to the resources and support they need to lead healthier lives.

“I wish people knew that CHW plays a key role in reaching out and supporting communities, particularly those that experience health disparities. We help reduce the burden of illness, and hospitalization in the community and also addresses social determinants of health.

 “CHWs are special because we have been trained to have strong relationships with local organizations, which enables us to connect individuals with services. We are also trained to overcome cultural misunderstandings and language barriers between the health providers and community members.

“I would like to eventually take on leadership roles within community health programs where I can advocate for policies and practices that improve health equity and access to care.”