Blanca lives in a small village in Guatemala. She graduated with a degree in Tourism. She is now interning at a local resort to get more work experience. Her lack of experience holds her back. Your donations will pay her a salary for her work as she gains more skills in her six month internship.. She plans to use part of her salary to study English which will be important in her Tourism career. She is a young women dedicated to getting ahead.
Many young women take up to a year to find work. They often give up looking and stay home to help their mothers with the housework or take jobs that do not use the skills their education provided. Blanca is in this category. She is beginning to get discouraged and frustrated. She really likes working in her chosen career, but does not see a way forward.
Blanca is one of the young women looking for work. Every place that she applies tells her she needs to have experience. If she can continue her work at the resort, she will gain experience and be encouraged to continue looking for work that she is trained for.
When surveyed in 2010, 84% of former Kateri Tekakwitha Fund recipients were currently employed. The women expressed that their increased economic security is critically important to them. One woman stated, "I know how to better face life. I have more opportunities in different places, and I have a sense of security". Others said "because I have a salary I can help my family" and "we don't have to suffer a single day anymore without food", expressing their gratitude for the Fund.
