Gender Equality Panama Project #7871

Fight Poverty: Educate Women in Panama

by Fundacion Calicanto

Project Report | Sep 26, 2014
Kimmy, the power of self-confidence

By Dalys Rodriguez | Executive Director

Kimmy on the first day, with a child-like look

When Kimmy arrived to Fundacion Calicanto we saw a young 18 year old girl with an introverted personality, monotonous speech, low self-esteem and if she ever answered a question, it was usually a shy and awkward yes or no answer with her head tilted toward the floor, avoiding eye contact at all costs.

The first week of CAPTA, Kimmy had difficulty communicating with the other women in the classroom; she had a child-like attitude and cried every time a teacher insisted on her participation. She had not finished high school; she only made it to 9th grade due to learning difficulties and because her mother couldn’t afford to send her to school any longer. By the time she entered CAPTA, she was financially dependant of her mother, and so was her younger sister.

On the third week of the course, positive changes in Kimmy started to show through the interventions of the psychologists and teachers. In the Computer Literacy course, she impressed the teacher with her high abilities to use the computer and finishing first in all of the assignments; and due to her dexterity in this class, the teacher asked her to help the other women in their work. This sparked a new attitude in Kimmy, for the first time in her life she felt she was good at something, and she spread this new feeling of self-satisfaction and self-confidence in the other courses. She began to express herself with her classmates and everyone who works at Fundacion Calicanto. Her personal appearance changed; she would come with impeccable hair, dress and make up. She started to be more outspoken, and would even volunteer for small tasks that would involve having to ask for things or talk to someone else.

During the practice at the International Hotel School, she excelled and received a recommendation letter and a diploma for her high performance. Kimmy was chosen by her classmates to be their spokeswoman in the graduation ceremony and received a Perseverance Award. A few days after graduation she passed by Fundacion Calicanto for an update, she said she couldn’t wait to start her new job and continue her path towards personal success.

Standing by herself during yoga class (far left)

In her practice at the Intl. Hotel School (middle)

Giving her testimony as the group's spokeswoman

Her face in the graduation invitation

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Jun 23, 2014
Marlene, insights from a strong-willed CAPTA woman

By Linda Quevedo | General Assistant

What is your name?

My name is Marlene

How old are you?

I am 19 years old

Are you single or married?

Single

Do you have children?

Yes, I have a 2-year-old daughter

Have you finished high school?

I’m studying right now. Trying to finish.

What did you do before the program?

Before the program, I was working in a company that manufactures and selects buttons for clothing.

When you heard about CAPTA, what did you like about it?

A neighbor and friend of mine told me about a program that would teach me how to find a job and how to change my life in a positive way. Hearing this was very exciting for me and I told my relatives that I wanted to join the program, not just because it would help me find a job but also because I wanted to learn! I wanted the opportunity to keep learning and make my dreams come true.

Why do you think you need this program?

To improve as a person and change my life, I want to be better and have more stability. I feel like this program will help me.

What did you feel when you were accepted into the program?

I felt happy and I got really emotional, I even started crying because I was full of joy.

What would you like to change about your life?

I would like to change the way I am and be able to communicate more with my family and to hold a fluent conversation and not end up arguing with them. I would like to understand them without fighting.

What are your goals after you finish the program?

My personal goals are to find a job, finish building my home and finish my nursing degree, that’s the dream I’m following.

What change would you like to see in the world?

Respect, value and no discrimination for women. That would a good change.

What have you learned recently that you would have liked to know when you were a young girl?

I wish I had a mentor who constantly encouraged and supported me to keep studying and working to get my college degree to find a worthy job.

Anything funny about your personality?

When I first meet someone I’m usually very serious but once I start to trust I’m all laughs.

What does luxury mean to you?

Luxury to me is having a full make up kit.

What would you tell a woman who could help you by buying something luxurious?

I would thank her because with her donation she is helping women who don’t have the resources to continue studying.

Would you like to receive some advice from these women? What would you ask?

Yes, I would like to ask her what she did in her life to get to where she is. How did she overcome all the obstacles to reach her goals without giving up ?

What advice could you give to a younger woman?

To continue studying and finish their college careers. Don’t give up despite the obstacles in the way, because with effort we can go further.

How did this program change your life? Has there been a change in your life after the program?

The program helped me understand that anything in life is easy as long as we fight for what we want. I learned to have a good attitude, to be positive in everything I do and to believe in myself. I feel more confident and now I know how to act when I am in a difficult situation. I learned to say things at the right time without offending or hurting others and I dialogue more with my family.

Marlene and her beautiful daughter

Links:

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Mar 26, 2014
Genis, An Empowered CAPTA Woman

By Dalys Rodriguez | Executive Director

I AM CAPTA

GENIS is 40 years old; she spent her early life in the province of Darien, with her parents and siblings. Despite her family’s limited resources, she was able to finish the eighth grade.

Twenty-two years ago, she moved to a poor, violent community in Panama City called Curundu, where she had to make many sacrifices as a single mother to feed her 5 children.

Genis learned about Fundacion Calicanto from a friend who had recently graduated from the CAPTA training program. As soon as she heard that the training would help her gain the tools she needed to be a successful woman, she decided to sign up for the training.

She stood out in the classroom because she is one of the few women from this neighborhood who has not been influenced by drugs or gangs; instead, she has learned to survive and learned from her experiences. Genis was one of the best students in the course; her goals included working in a hotel and own a descent home for herself and her family.

She left behind all her fears and insecurities and now works at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Panama. She started cleaning the public areas in the hotel and due to her initiative and excellent working habits, she’s moved up to housekeeping. Genis is an example of a woman who decided to change for herself and her family; thanks to the CAPTA course, her dreams came true.

Spanish Version

GENIS es una mujer de 40 años de edad que vivió sus primeros años de vida en la Provincia del Darién, junto a sus padres y sus hermanos. A pesar de los recursos limitados de su familia, con mucho esfuerzo pudo llegar hasta tercer año.

Hace 22 años se mudó a una comunidad de riesgo en la Cuidad de Panamá llamada Curundú donde inicialmente tuvo que hacer muchos sacrificios para mantener a sus 5 hijos sola.

Genis fue referida a Fundación Calicanto por una estudiante egresada del programa de Capacitación para el Trabajo (CAPTA) y desde que conoció el programa, tomó la oportunidad de capacitarse. Caracterizándose porque a pesar de su historia de vida, nunca fue víctima de las drogas, ni de las pandillas de su barrio, sino que aprovechó cada una de sus experiencias para aprender. Genis fue una de las mejores estudiantes del curso, sus metas incluían trabajar en un hotel y adquirir una casa digna para su familia.

Dejó atrás todos sus temores e inseguridades y hoy en día trabaja en el Hotel Waldorf Astoria Panamá. Empezó en el área de limpieza de áreas públicas y gracias a su pro actividad y desempeño ahora está como ama de llaves. Genis representa una mujer que tomó la decisión de cambiar su vida y la de su familia; gracias a CAPTA su sueño se hizo realidad.

Genis at the Waldorf Astoria

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