Charleston Job Corps students returned home on March 16th as the center
joined other Job Corps centers nationwide in closing their campus to protect students and slow the spread of COVID-19.

While the center closure has created hardships for many of our students and staff, two students in the Network Cable Installation program are using the time to increase their skill sets, gain job experience in their field and make some money.

Network Cable Installation students Alkaly Fofana and Salomon Kyaybelly began working at McDonald’s in Richmond, VA shortly after returning home for spring break, but both felt their time would be better used increasing their trade skills in real work scenarios. Fofana reached out to Kyle Shield, owner of DataShield LLC., to ask if there were any job openings for him and Kyaybelly. The two had met Shield and worked for DataShield LLC as part of the work-based learning program at Charleston Job Corps. During that WBL assignment, the pair installed cameras, speakers, and Wifi extenders at Charleston Job Corps.

Fofana’s initiative paid off as both were hired as installation technicians with DataShield. The company provides the pair with a company vehicle, travel allotment, meal allowance, and hotel accommodations as they travel to do various installation jobs in the commercial sector. They have installed 5G equipment, access controls, closed-circuit television circuits, fiber optics for Amazon, and more. Their work has taken them to Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois.

DataShield is a veteran-owned small business located just north of Columbus in Mount Gilead, OH, that provides structured cabling network and cabling solutions to meet the needs of constantly evolving business networks. Network Cable Installation Instructor Charles “Chuck” Singleton praised his two students and their initiative, saying, “They have demonstrated great work ethic and have always shown professionalism within my trade.” The students have also forwarded information from DataShield to Singleton to share with fellow students once they return to campus for in-person classes.