Empowering Guatemalan Women with Professional Jobs

Two years ago, Loyda graduated from high school prepared to work as a bi-lingual secretary.  With no experience, she was not able to get a job in her career.  She needed to work, so took a job in an internet cafe that did not use her skills.  She started to save money to go to the university, thinking that more education would help her in her job search.  She was not earning very much, so that was hard. 

When she heard about the Kateri Tekakwitha Fund Intern Program, she realized it would help her get work experience and lead to a higher paying job where she would be working in her career, so she applied.  The Fund was able to place her as a school secretary.  The school where she is interning has many worshops that teach what makes for a good work environment and that is going to help her be successful when she gets a permanent position. 

With the money she earns as an intern with the Fund, she started at the university. Working in a school led her to change her career.  She decided to study to be a teacher at the university.  She is finding the university is introducing her to many new ideas which she really enjoys.

Read her June report below:

"My studies go very well.  The courses are very interesting.  They give us suggested topics and we have debates about  themes like how much has the government done for Guatemala and what ought we to do to change our country.  Saturday, June 16^th, we are going to have our mid-term exams in three courses.  I am reviewing all that we have done so I can do well.

I am learning many things where I am an intern.  I have learned about the adaption of the curriculum.  I fill out forms for students with different disabilities.  For example: If a child doesn’t learn rapidly the form outlines how the educator would teach him.  I also participated in a workshop on professional sharing.  We learned how we could help each other in our work and how the work goes forward when there is help and communication.  The 29^th of this month, there is another workshop about working in a team." 

Loyda is now finishing up her intern year and will be looking for a permanent job.  The Kateri Fund Coordinator has helped her prepare for this with workshops on job seeking skills.  She will help and encourage Loyda as she starts her search.