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Franky Bahati's youth mentoring experiences through the  opened her mind to possibilities that changed the course of her life.

“Being exposed to the �պ����� campus as a kid incited something inside that inspired me to explore what life would be like if I went to college,” recalls the senior who will earn her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree this spring. “Being the first to graduate college is the highest honor I could bring to my Burundi family.”

Throughout her upbringing in the Winooski and Burlington area, Franky often found herself connecting with people and places connected to �պ�����. “All roads led to being at our beautiful campus,” she says. And with help from the Catamount Commitment that removes financial barriers for Vermonters to attend, her dream became a real possibility. “When I found out that I got accepted, I was overjoyed to know that I was going to learn from professors who care about every student's well-being and success. I have felt very supported, loved, and cared for in my time here.”

Though social work wasn’t Bahati’s first major when starting out at �պ�����, she says the pandemic made clear it what her career path should be. After earning her BSW, she plans to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and become a youth and family therapist.

Describing herself as an “overly friendly” child, Bahati always knew that she would dedicate her life to helping others. After graduating from high school, she worked for three years as an instructional assistant working with students at her alma mater.

“Now I am back as a social work intern working with people in the same school district who once taught me when I was a young,” she says about her yearlong field placement at Winooski Middle and High School. “I get to work with students who I watched grow up, set them up with mental health resources, and connect them to programs that allow them to grow. My field instructors are awesome, and I have a strong relationship with the educators here. They challenge me to do things that help me can gain more experience.”

As an AmeriCorps member of the DREAM Program, Bahati runs an after-school program teaching Winooski High School students how to become mentors for elementary school students. She also serves the community as a member of the Anti-Racism Steering Committee (ARSC) at the Winooski School District.

"Franky has been an amazing addition to the program," says DREAM Associate Youth Services Director Nolan Benoit. "She is a relatable presence for many of the students and has built strong connections with all of them. Franky already knew most of the kids in the program, and that has been a great foundation for the relationships to grow and flourish."

Winooski High School student Passy Matendo (left) and Bahati connect during an afterschool group meeting of students involved with the DREAM Program. Standing in in the background is Nolan Benoit, associate youth services director of DREAM. (Photo: Erica Houskeeper)

"I had the honor of enjoying Franky in three of my BSW classes when she was a junior,” says Social Work Lecturer Danielle Jatlow. “She integrated her lived experiences and identities into our learning community ethos and asked meaningful and purposeful questions to support the whole class to grapple with how intellectual ideas and theories find their way into complex social work practice situations and relationships. She also brought a playfulness and energy that helped our classroom community feel more connected, encouraging vulnerability and openness. I’m grateful that my path crossed with Franky’s."

Bahati says heartfelt relationships with professors and students in her BSW cohort inspire and empower her on a daily basis. “Since my first day joining CESS, I felt a strong sense of belonging,” she says. “I have no problem digging deep and being vulnerable in my learning. My cohort is filled with amazing individuals who bring so much joy into my life and inspire me to keep pushing myself when I feel discouraged or struggling to stay motivated. The memories we have created will forever be ingrained in my brain. �պ����� has helped shape me into someone I am proud of, and I will continue to use the tools I've learned as an undergraduate in my future plans as a graduate student.”

Studying Social Work at �պ�����

Through its teaching, scholarship, and public service, �պ�����’s Department of Social Work prepares students to meet Vermont’s human service needs while advancing social work knowledge that contributes to a more humane and just society. Underlying the department’s mission and goals are a set of interrelated core beliefs informing how social work is understood and practiced through strengths perspective, critical social construction, social justice, and human rights. Undergraduate BSW and graduate-level MSW programs are nationally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. 

“Our learning environment is enhanced by the progressive culture of Vermont,” says Department of Social Work Chair Jan Fook. “This provides a rich community network enabling our faculty, students and alumni to make impactful contributions to a more just society."